Santa Barbara Parks and Rec Department kicks off volunteer gardening project

SANTA BARBARA, Calif. - A popular park and garden is officially ready for volunteers in a revitalization project.

The Santa Barbara Parks and Recreation Department is ready  to kick off its first Saturday Volunteer Day. 

“So we have somebody who is watering we have somebody composting some weeding and just cleaning up into fall cleanup of the garden. We get a lot of compliments all day long people walking through saying they’re appreciating the work we’ve been doing it’s really gratifying," said volunteer coordinator Betsy Lape.

For several months the city has been recruiting a group of volunteers in a revitalization project at Alice Keck Park Memorial Garden.

Now they’re ready to go.

“We got lots of people taking out plants that are really overgrown. We’re maintaining things were feeding plants or weeding mulching compost," said volunteer coordinator Andie Sausser of the City of Santa Barbara.

"The love of my life is nature ... this place is like a living room for everyone you know it’s like a refuge," said volunteer Lily Fonte of Santa Barbara.

Organizers of the project said anyone of all skill leaves can join in on this garden project.

“My hope is that we get this garden back into shape. We bring the community out here and we get anyone who wants to be involved in gardening whether you’re a beginner or an advanced gardener come out here and help us out we got tasks for everybody," said Sausser.

The city offers basic supplies including gloves and hand tools for those who don’t have their own. 

And drop-in volunteers are welcome. 

The First Saturday Volunteer Day begins this weekend, Saturday, November 4th from 9:00 a.m. to noon at Alice Keck Park Memorial Garden in Santa Barbara.

For more information, visit: https://santabarbaraca.gov/government/priorities-policies/creek-and-ocean-water-quality/education-outreach/volunteer.