By Ben Lockridge
blockridge@themeridianstar.com
AmeriCorps members spent Friday morning aiding the city as they begin work to remodel Monument Park located at 23rd Avenue and 4th Street in downtown Meridian.
AmeriCorps NCCC (National Civilian Community Corps) is a team-based residential program for men and women age 18–24. It requires a 10-month commitment where members serve in teams of eight to 12 and are assigned to projects throughout the region served by their campus.
"We have to have 80 independent service hours to complete the program, so when the EMBDC called us to come out we asked them what they wanted us to do," said Tera McCartney of Americorps.
"We are not just helping to build a park, we are also building good examples for others to follow," said Zander Morales of Americorps.
The AmeriCorps members were aided by Kevin Locke of the City of Meridian who designed the park. The group spent most of the day laying out stakes so that the next group could place bricks in their place.
Danielle Winningham of the EMBDC said they were focusing on a community-based beautification effort where many groups will play different parts in the building of the park whether by getting their hands dirty or by donations.
"We believed in engaging our community in these efforts. We think will people work on things like this it makes it much more important to them when they know they played a part," Winningham said.
Winningham says that the construction will conclude with the relocation of the Zehler monument.
"The Zehler monument is currently located in Highland Park but was originally a part of downtown Meridian," she said. "It will be relocated to the new park when it is completed."
The monument was made in honor of F.W. Zehler, the first fire chief in Meridian, who was killed in the line of duty in 1901.
Winningham says that there will be more work done on the park today from 9 a.m. until about 1 p.m.
If you would like to learn more about the AmeriCorps program, you may go to www.americorps.gov for more information.
