JERSEY CITY – Jersey City’s Division of Parks and Forestry is looking for residents to participate in a citywide community beautification project known as the Big Dig. On Saturday, Oct. 22, resident volunteers and workers from Parks and Forestry will plant 17,000 daffodils and tulips in 80 locations throughout the city. If successful, dozens of city parks, select open spaces, schools, libraries, historic cemeteries, and gateways to the city will be blooming in yellows, oranges and reds for April and May 2012.
If successful, dozens of city parks, select open spaces, schools, libraries, historic cemeteries, and gateways to the city will be blooming in yellows, oranges and reds for April and May 2012.
Jersey City’s Big Dig is part of the national Making a Difference Day.
Donations are being raised from individuals and corporations who are committed to the beautification of their hometown and who see this as an investment that will keep on giving year after year.
“For the past few years, my office has been involved in recognizing Make A Difference Day with events in Jersey City,” said Mayor Jerramiah Healy.
“However, this year is different as this is the first time we have had one, overarching event for the entire city. We thank the Jersey City Parks Coalition for this concept of coordinated bulb planting throughout the city and for all of their hard work to get this project off the ground.”
Begun in 1990 as a national day dedicated to helping others, Make A Difference Day is an annual event sponsored by USA Weekend Magazine on the fourth Saturday of every October. Volunteers can join a group project or come up with their own project, like spending the day at a soup kitchen or helping an elderly neighbor around the house. Those who can’t participate on Saturday for religious reasons can do their community service on Sunday.
The Big Dig, which will be cosponsored by the Jersey City Parks Coalition, is the organization’s first citywide event. Since 2004, the coalition has planted fall bulbs in Pershing Field, Van Vorst Park, Riverview-Fisk Park, Sgt. Anthony Park, Ercel Webb Park, Washington Park, and Lincoln Park.
The effort is also being cosponsored by the Jersey City Division of Cultural Affairs.
For more information, visit the Jersey City Parks Coalition website at www.jcparks.org. To make a donation or to volunteer with the Big Dig, call Laura Skolar at (201) 259-1800 or Charlene Burke at (201) 344-2060.
Everyone is encouraged to attend and make a difference in the community.
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