July 17, 2018 – Lions Park in Dryden, Ont. has been cleaned up by the collective efforts of volunteers from Domtar and the Student Conservation Association.
The volunteers invested hundreds of hours in the spring to clean up the community park with help from the SCA. Domtar employees, family and friends from the Dryden community pitched in to make Lions Park a safe and welcoming community space.
This SCA cleanup was particularly special because the park recently lost funding from the local parks and recreation department due to budget cuts. The relatively small park, nestled next to the local high school, was once a neighborhood gathering place, with swing sets and walking trails accessible to families and students. Since the budget cuts, the swing sets were removed and the brush and trails became overgrown, leading to concerns about safety and illegal activity in the area.
To assist with the SCA cleanup, nearly 60 Domtar volunteers cleared brush, trash and overgrown trees. By the end of the day, all areas of the park were visible through the tree line.
Local residents were pleased to see the improvements. One couple, whose house is directly across the street from the park, said they were “so happy to see volunteers here, and [they] hope this encourages people to start using the park more recreationally now.”
Domtar has partnered with the SCA in Canada and the United States since 2012, serving as a national supporter with financial contributions and as a local contributor through a series of community projects like the SCA cleanup projects in Dryden.
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