Last year when Tom Payne and two other co-workers from IGS Energy in Niles spent a day in March cleaning up Riverfront Park, they walked away with 40 bags of trash and a feeling of accomplishment. The project has since encouraged other companies to follow suit.
This year when Payne and the IGS crew return to the park, they will have the aid of several other businesses that have committed to a day of service, including The Studio, Martin’s and First Source Bank, to name a few. The volunteers will drop work for a day to work to keep the park looking its best.
The volunteer day is part of the second annual “Impact Day of Service,” where all IGS companies pick a project to improve their community during the second week of March.
From 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Thursday, March 9, volunteers will rake, weed and clean up trash along the St. Joseph waterfront. Snacks and lunch will be provided by IGS Energy. Volunteers are still welcome to join the project and are asked to bring outdoor work gloves and a shovel.
Like many in Niles, Payne sees the riverfront as one of the city’s best natural features.
“I think it is just an awesome natural resource for Niles,” Payne said. “It is really beautiful.”
The park on the east side of the St. Joseph River offers visitors a walking trail, park, boat dock and amphitheater. It is the site of multiple Niles events, including the Hunter Ice Festival.
IGS is based in Dublin, Ohio and is the ninth largest energy retailer in the country, Payne said. The company has more than 700 employees, though only three operate the Niles office.
With an increased number of volunteers, Payne is hoping they can cover more ground. He said last year the team of three-employees strong could only cover the area between the Broadway Street Bridge and the Main Street Bridge. This year, he said they intend to divide and conquer to cover as much of the park as possible.
Those who signed up to help expressed a similar passion for the park.
“People are really enthused,” Payne said. “I did find out that they have a similar feeling about the park that I did. They appreciate it as a resource of recreation as well.”
Those interested in volunteering can contact Payne at tpayne@igsenergy.com.