Present Pillars in Benton Harbor is looking to adopt a city park to help ensure it’s maintained and beautified.
Present Pillars Director James Gunter tells us the organization has received a grant from Home Depot to spruce up Frank’s Park, located off Britain Avenue near Colfax. Present Pillars approached Home Depot about becoming part of its Team Depot program, which offers financial resources and volunteer support. If city commissioners approve the project, the team will get to work as soon as the weather warms up.
“Home Depot is going to send out their Team Depot and we’ll be able to do some mulch, flowers, those types of things,” Gunter said. “Just overall, just beautify the park.”
Gunter says he’s hoping to help maintain a park for the parents of small children. As the father of two himself, he values having a safe, beautiful place to play with them. And Frank’s Park is the city’s only park geared toward toddlers.
“I grew up on Apple Street, right in front of that park. And I played there as a kid. That was my park. So there’s a deep nostalgia there for me, and now that I am a dad, too, I love the idea of taking my kids to play there.”
Benton Harbor City Commissioners will consider the Present Pillars request to adopt Frank’s Park Tuesday.
Gunter says if all goes well, a long-term goal of the adoption could be to add new playground equipment and programming at the park. For now, the organization is only looking to make cosmetic improvements.
