By Bob Strohm
bstrohm@wbcowqel.com

The Crawford Park District showed that a day can make a difference at Make-A-Difference Day on Saturday. The park district received a $5,000 check from the Gannett Foundation and some elbow grease from volunteers.

Make-A-Difference Day is a national effort by the Gannet News Service which is the parent company of the Telegraph-Forum. Anthony Conchel of the TF presented Fisher with the check from the Gannett Foundation prior to volunteers spreading out to do various work for the Crawford Park District.

Bill Fisher explained what the grant was going to be used for.

“We were lucky enough to be awarded a $5,000 grant to assist in just all the materials and equipment we need to get this community together in an effort to make a difference,” Fisher said. “And they are making a difference at the parks.”

“If we get even a dent in that it’s going to make a difference for the park, and it’s also making a difference to the kids who signed up so they feel that they have made a difference in the community, and that is what it’s about,” Fisher added.

At Lowe-Volk there were several different projects: making picnic tables, sealing picnic tables, sealing board walk, exterminating invasive plants in the woods.

At Heckert the volunteers made a new trail, as well as built a new bridge on that new trail, as well as exterminating invasive plants of the woody plants variety in order to keep the open grass.

At Unger Park in Bucyrus volunteers focused on retaining prairie open grass areas, getting rid of tree saplings that are starting to come up, and repairing some blue bird boxes.

Staff members from the Telegraph-Forum, members of Boy Scout Troop 106, members of Crawford: 20/20 Vision, and numerous other volunteers joined together to help make a difference for the Crawford Park District.

Dave Williamson of Crawford 20/20 Vision Plan and also one of the volunteers said, “We are helping a little bit, and it’s an opportunity for the public to come together to volunteer and celebrate and what better place to celebrate would be the Crawford Park District.”