SEARCY — Winter might feel far away, but it’s not too soon for some groups to start thinking about the holidays. In Searcy, the city’s parks and recreation department is expecting a crowd later this year to visit Berryhill Park for the annual Holiday of Lights, and Parks and Recreation Director Mike Parsons said he’s hoping that — with the community’s help — the park will look perfect for the event.
The Searcy Parks and Recreation Department is looking for people to “adopt” sections of Berryhill Park and take care of maintaining its appearance. Parsons said right now the focus is on four flower beds, and he has already had a little bit of interest from a few groups.
“There are some beds that are smaller and some that are bigger,” he said. “I would be willing to meet with interested people at the park to let them check it out. We have had some interest and some calls, but nothing set up yet.”
The department employs seven maintenance workers to take care of 180 acres. Parsons said with everything else they do, it can be difficult to find time to focus on every aspect of each of the parks.
“It’s hard to give attention to the flower-bed areas,” he said. “We have the local Master Gardeners who take care of the flower beds in the other parks, but they just don’t have enough members right now to take on Berryhill.”
Berryhill Park is a 7.2-acre facility at 501 Davis Drive. The park includes playgrounds, a pavilion, picnic areas, a softball field, five lighted tennis courts, a volleyball court, a lighted walking trail, restrooms and a shuffle board court. Parsons said the park gets a lot of attention as the location of Holiday of Lights, and that is why it is important to fill in the maintenance gaps with volunteers.
The Holiday of Lights Christmas Parade is scheduled for Dec. 5 at 6 p.m. In the past, the parade route began at Spring Park, circled the Court Square onto Race
Avenue and ended at Berryhill Park. This year’s parade route had not been announced as of press time.
Parsons said the volunteer opportunity is open to anyone, including professional landscapers, Boy Scout troops, church groups, school clubs and families.
“We would put recognition out there to let people know who was maintaining that particular flower bed,” he said. “It could be great exposure for landscapers and other groups, and it could be something parents can do with their kids.”
At this time, Parsons said he is hoping volunteers can commit to six months or a year or maintenance, but he is flexible with that time frame and wants to be respectful of volunteers’ time.
“If it gets to a point where they can’t do it, they are more than welcome to call and let us know,” he said.
Depending on how the Berryhill Park volunteer effort goes, Parsons said he might expand the opportunity to other parks in the future.
“We’re hoping it really takes off,” he said. “I would not be against expanding it at all.”
To get more information or to volunteer, contact Parsons at the Carmichael Center either by calling (501) 279-1010 or visiting his office at 801 S. Elm St.
Staff writer Angela Spencer can be reached at (501) 244-4307 or aspencer@arkansasonline.com.