"Mini-Park Day 2009" Achieves Goals

"Mini-Park Day 2009" Achieves Goals
by Parker Hills

Friends of Raymond’s (FOR) innovation, a “Mini-Park Day,” which was held on Saturday, June 13, was a huge success in sprucing up the Raymond Walking Trail. This “extra” Park Day, held as an adjunct to the Annual Park Day in April, was initiated by FOR to enhance the appearance and utility of the Raymond Walking Trail, as the trail, which now surrounds a field full of six-foot lush corn, has happily been experiencing heavy usage during the spring and summer months.

The goals of FOR were to: place two new trash receptacles along the trail; secure the three cannon already on the trail upon concrete bases donated by Vicksburg National Military Park; move some giant and very old abandoned railroad timbers from the woods near Fourteenmile Creek to the walking trail gravel parking lot, to serve there as benches for the weary exerciser; mow along the trail and clear the foliage out of the ditch near the bus parking area; spruce-up the garden area at the Raymond Military Park granite marker; and, as a lagniappe project, repaint the cannon on the Town Square.

All of the goals were achieved to the fullest, and FOR looks to expansion of its battlefield landholdings, as well as the placement of more cannon and interpretation on the battlefield. In short, the future is bright and FOR is charging into it.

The spring rains resulted in large areas of overgrown brush on the periphery of the Raymond Walking Trail, creating a challenge for FOR volunteers.

Photo by Parker Hills

With the brush cleared, the walking trail was restored to its former beauty.

Photo by Parker Hills

Even the best of workers need a break.

Photo by Parker Hills

War and peace on the Raymond Walking Trail. Photo by Parker Hills
	A cannon is carefully lowered into concrete bases donated by Vicksburg National Military Park. Photo by Parker Hills
Two new trash receptacles were concreted into position for use on the Raymond Walking Trail. Photo by Parker Hills
	As an extra project, the FOR cannon on the Raymond Town Square was repainted. Photo by Parker Hills