Paving City Park Drive and the parking lots at City Park seems to have been the catalyst for other improvements.

Several organizations in town have rolled up their sleeves to join the effort to make the little park the best it can be.

The most recent example occurred this weekend when members of the Gerald Lions Club erected playground equipment at the large ballfield in the park.

Using equipment lent to the group by Jim Hackstedt, the volunteers first leveled the ground and dug holes for the equipment’s poles. Then the play pieces were attached to the poles. It took most of the weekend to complete the painstaking job.

The city will come in this week to pour the concrete pad and do some finishing work.

The playground was the brainchild of Ward 1 Aldermen Kyle Guerrant. The city ordered the equipment earlier this year, but lacked the manpower to put it in place.

The Gerald Athletic Association (GAA) has also stepped up. After the parking lots were paved, GAA had them all striped. Last week, utility poles purchased by the city were installed by the GAA. The group also took care of reinstalling the lighting on the poles. The new poles replaced rotting poles that were becoming a danger. Over the last few years, many of these poles have been replaced. With the latest installations, all poles on both fields should now last many years.

Some lights on the small field need to be replaced, but GAA says they will take care of that in the next few weeks.

The Rock Island Bloomers have put in their fair share of labor at the park as well. They recently power washed and scrubbed the concession stand and public rest rooms at the park. They also scoured the entire expanse of the park picking up trash. If you have noticed the flowers and fall decorations at the park, just know the Bloomers are responsible for those as well.

Recently, the park was the site of the Rock Island Trail Music Fest. As out-of-towners arrived, they almost all commented on the beautiful park located in such a small town. They wondered how it was possible.

The answer is simple- — because so many pitch in to help. And not just at the park, but all around town.

There will be more projects in the future that might require your help. Step up and do your part.

Gerald has much of which to be proud. The community spirit might be first on the list.