HANCOCK — The City of Hancock came together Thursday to “Pitch in for parks.” Hancock residents volunteered by cleaning and grooming parks from debris spread throughout the winter, getting them ready for the upcoming summer season. Both individuals and groups from businesses, clubs and religious collectives pitched in.

The cleanup included not only regular parks, but locations such as the HoCo Arena parking lot and the dog park which were cleaned up by Hancock High School students. Trash was collected, leaves and dried grass raked, weeds pulled, flower beds cleared and damaged playground and park equipment documented for repair or replacement.

Todd Gast from the City of Hancock Downtown Development Authority, said the event was a favorite of the late DDA director Deborah Mann and he wanted to make sure the event continues with her in mind, especially in honoring her desire to see residents gather together. Gast said the event was also a great way to meet and greet with fellow city residents while they cared for their parks.

“When our parks look good, that’s a great reflection on our city and that our community cares about our parks, which we really value very, very highly here in the city of Hancock,” he said.

Porvoo Park at the Portage Canal waterfront was cleaned by members of Hancock’s Lighthouse United Pentecostal Church. Kelly Griffin of the church said the cleanup event was a great kickoff to the summer season.

“It’s important to be part of the community and to support the community in any way that we can,” she said. “I think that me and my husband, we believe in family and parks are part of that family thing that you go and take your kids to and have picnics and just have time together.”

Montezuma Park was cleaned by a collective of individuals and employees from Breakwater Federal Credit Union. Among those cleaning were Neeki Ebnenasir and Kaylee White. Ebnenasir is a student at Hancock Schools and said she became interested in conducting community service when she saw the “Pitch in for the Parks” signs throughout the city.

“It’s my park, my neighborhood. So I want to do something useful,” she said.

White is the Marketing and Community Relations Coordinator of Breakwater Federal Credit Union. She said the credit union makes an effort to involve its employees in community activities with a goal of 168 hours of volunteerism by its team by the end of the year. So far their staff is about 40 percent towards the goal.

“This is a place that we all enjoy, and I think that we all want to put in an honest effort to keep it clean and keep it looking nice for our children and generations to come to enjoy and to get outside,” White said.

After the parks were cleaned and ready for the season, the volunteers got to enjoy a Volwerth’s hot dog at the Hancock Fire Hall. The event has helped prepare the city for public space openings on May 15 including the city’s beach, campground and cemetery.