On April 19, volunteers from the community met at the Mordecai Mini Park and the Marshall Street Creek area for a park work day. Over 20 people spread mulch, cut vines and weeds, and picked up trash in these two neighborhood parks. The city provided rakes, shovels, bags- everything needed to get the job done.

After working for a few hours everyone gathered at the Mordecai Mini Park for the reopening ceremony and ribbon cutting. Many children and families arrived for the celebration. Wayne Schindler from the Parks and Recreation Department spoke on behalf of the city. Dana Deaton and Tom Oglesby thanked everyone on behalf of the CAC. The ribbon was then cut, officially reopening the new playground! It was great to see the neighborhood kids enjoying the park and eating ice cream.

Beginning in March 2007, the Mordecai Parks Committee in conjunction with our CAC worked with the City of Raleigh Parks and Recreation department to plan and renovate the long outdated Mordecai Mini Park. This small neighborhood park is located at the corner of Blount and Poplar Streets, adjacent to Hope Elementary School.

Extensive renovations were undertaken, including the construction of a new toddler play area, new sidewalks, entry area, and fencing, new picnic decks and tables, and new GameTime play equipment. Some old equipment was refurbished, and the park was graded and finished with new sand, mulch, and retaining walls.

Special thanks goes to Cindy Trumbower, Shawsheen Baker, Kenneth Hisler, and Wayne Schindler from the City of Raleigh Parks and Rec department for all of their hard work on improving our neighborhood playground. Thanks to Tom Oglesby and Shane Trahan for their work on organizing the Marshall Street clean up. Thanks also to David Plotner his work as co-chair of the Mordecai Parks Committee.

For more information and a photo gallery of the Mordecai Mini Park, please visit http://mordecaiparks.synthasite.com/mini_park.php