LCC seeking volunteers for cleanup of Northside Park

This Saturday, the 2016 Leadership Cheyenne County class is asking for the community to help with the revitalization of Sidney's Northside Park by participating in an all-day cleanup effort.

Sidney police officers Curtis Hofrock and Jennifer Woodis, who are participating in this year's class, are spearheading the Northside Park project.

Leadership Cheyenne County is a program sponsored by the Cheyenne County Chamber of Commerce that aims to develop its participants into involved civic leaders and community volunteers.

"Basically, we learned about the resources here in Cheyenne County," Hofrock said. "When I first heard about it, it was SALT, Sidney Area Leaders of Tomorrow, and then it transitioned into Leadership Cheyenne County."

This year's class has nine participants, Hofrock said, including Woodis and himself.

Woodis said every class in the program comes up with a project that benefits the community as a whole.

"Last year, I think they did a music night on Hickory Square," she said.

This year, the class chose to do a revitalization of the Northside Park, located on the intersection of 18th Ave. and Ash St. near the Sioux Villa Apartments. Hofrock said Woodis had come up with the project while she was conducting research in her studies towards earning a bachelor's degree in criminal justice.

"There are great parks in our town, but there are also a lot of little parks that have, for the lack of a better term, been neglected over the years," he said. "I really hope that this turns into something that, maybe next year, we can sponsor a cleanup day at another park."

Woodis said she and Hofrock, as police officers, also have had opportunities to talk with the children in the northside area about the park.

"We got to hear what they'd really enjoy and what they would like," she said. "The park there isn't the greatest, so giving them a place to play, a place where families can get together, and just making that area more enjoyable for them, I believe it will be a benefit to the community."

"I mean, kids want to go play basketball over there, and the court is just covered with sand burrs," Hofrock said. "We want to give them a place that is nice."

Hofrock said the revitalization, which the class has been planning since August last year, consists of "simple, little things" that help make the park a friendlier place for the area's youth.

"It's throwing down some gravel, it's throwing some paint on current equipment that's there," he said.

Saturday tasks include painting, trash pickup, replacing nets on the basketball court, framing and surrounding playground equipment with pea gravel and whatever else is needed to revitalize the park.

"We're inviting the entire community out to come help with this project," Hofrock said. "The hope is that (the community) will take some ownership in the park and help keep it cleaned up for years to come."

"The biggest thing is for our community to show these kids that they care about the park, and want to make it a place where they can actually play and enjoy a nice day instead of having to sit inside," Woodis said.

For the larger tasks, such as providing supplies and repairs of neglected playground equipment, Hofrock said several local businesses have stepped up to help, including the Scottsbluff Housing Authority, Bell Pole and Lumber, Woodis Welding, the Cheyenne County Chamber of Commerce and Adams Industries.

"I think supplies-wise, we're set," Hofrock said. "What we're needing are hands."

Arby's restaurant will also be providing food for volunteers during Saturday's cleanup.

"If somebody wants to come out and help, we welcome them," Hofrock said. "Just show up."

The cleanup will begin at 8:30 a.m. Saturday, May 21, at the Northside Park in Sidney. Hofrock said the effort will continue "until the work's done."

"If you can give us all day, that would be fantastic," he said. "If you can give us an hour, that's great, too."

For more information or to make a donation to the revitalization of Northside Park, contact Jennifer Woodis or Curtis Hofrock at the Sidney Police Department located at 1715 Illinois St. or by phone (308) 254-5515.