The restoration of Sharon Springs' Chalybeate Park will get a jumpstart Saturday, May 4, with a 10-2 Community Cleanup.
Hard workers of all ages are invited; dress appropriately, bring shovels and rakes, and plan on enjoying refreshments by Mos Delicious Catering.
The event will be held rain or shine.
Brent Ridge, one of those spearheading work at the park, located just off Route 10 in the heart of the village, said long-range work there includes a complete restoration of the 1910 namesake Chalybeate Spring Temple.
Starting small, he said, volunteers will first tackle a new roof.
Other work on the 4th will include raking, painting, planting, and placing the park's new chairs and benches.
They'll also start on an access path down into the park, something Dr. Ridge said they hope will be finished in time for a ribbon-cutting at the Sharon Springs Garden Party, June 1-2.
"Our goal is to turn this into a true community center," he said, "and for that to happen, people need to buy into it. We want as many people as we can get to, of all ages, to get involved."
As part of a long-term vision for the park, Dr. Ridge said Roger Hazard, producer and designer for A&E's "Sell This House," and owner, with husband Chris Stout-Hazard, of the Sharon Springs furniture shop Love Decades, has been working with SUNY Cobleskill landscape design students on a multi-year plan that will be posted at the park's entrance.
Though the park's already been on the receiving end of a handful of grants, Dr. Ridge said those efforts will continue when Mr. Hazard "auctions off" trees, plantings, benches, chairs, and bricks, at an event during the Garden Party Weekend.
For more information on the cleanup, email Dr. Ridge at beekman1802@1802.com.
Otherwise, he said, just show up ready to work.

• • •

Also working on efforts at Chalybeate Park is resident Josh Stillwell, who's been researching possible grants.
Mr. Stillwell said Thursday it looks like the best bet for funding would be through a matching NYS Parks & Recreation grant for up to $500,000.
The park's already been awarded funding for a fitness trail, a mural to be painted by artists Peter Cozzolino and Marguerite McFarland, and for benches and locally-made Amish chairs.
Deputy Mayor Doug Plummer said when the last walls of the old pool at the site were removed in the fall, they may have located the original source of water for the temple.
Eventually, he said, the village would like to see the temple-which appears on its letterhead-reconnected and accessible to the public again.
"It will be great for Sharon Springs to finally be in charge of one of its springs," he said.