Beautification Days come to town

THOMPSON FALLS - On Saturday groups of volunteers spread throughout Thompson Falls’ trails and parks to clean and build as part of “Beautification Days.”

Starting at 9:00am the groups all met in front of City Hall and organized who would tackle what project.

One large group traveled up to the Forest Service area above town. There, two smaller groups worked on separate projects. One group worked on creating a picnic area with a fire ring, small permanent grill and a picnic table.

The surface they worked on when completed would also be leveled and covered with wood chips.

Lori Methgen, one of the volunteers, described why she felt it necessary to spend her Saturday working.

She said, “My son and I enjoy these trails all the time, so it is not ownership, but a certain responsibility to keep it up.”

The other group worked on widening the Mule Path Fitness Trail that cuts across the Forest Service Thomson Falls Region. Using picks and rakes, the group that comprised of citizen volunteers and mostly boys from the Woodcreek Academy widened the trail by two feet. Dave Wrobleski of the Forest Service led the projects.

He said, “Because it (the trail) is so close to town it’s probably one of the ranger districts most heavily used trails.”

Just outside of town by the power plant along the river another group worked hard on cleaning up trails and beaches where people swim.

Paul Kahn who was one of the organizers of the multi-day event was very pleased with the turnout and the amount of work completed.

Boys from the Woodcreek Academy also worked along the river and Kahn was very pleased with how much they contributed. Kahn said, “Those boys have helped us everyday and what a job they have done!”

Sunday, more work was completed around town to help ready the town for the oncoming warmer months when people will be outside more and using the Thompson Falls’ trails and parks.