Viewfinder: Ninth Year of Beautify Bonney Lake 2012 Draws 500 to 600 Volunteers

Neon green shirts were all over the city Saturday morning, worn by the many volunteers who gave of their time to help with an assortment of projects to improve the community of Bonney Lake.

Lillian McGinnis, the executive director of Beautify Bonney Lake, said at the start of the gathering that she estimated about 500 people had registered and typically the event draws between 500 to 600 people. Gary Leaf, vice chairman of the committee put the number closer to 600.

Contrary to past years, McGinnis said organizers doubled the size of the registration area at the Bonney Lake Park and Ride to accommodate the volunteers, and two school buses were used to more efficiently transport everyone to their work sites, as opposed to one bus used last year.

Like last year, there were 22 designated projects as part of Beautify Bonney Lake, she said. One restoration project from last year had been completed, but the committee adopted a new project at Brookside Trails, which is a newly acquired city property, she said.

Leaf said the was the biggest contributor of volunteers thanks to the assorted service projects and requirements the students have in the district. He credits Superintendent Craig Spencer with putting his own philosophy of servant leadership into action by encouraging volunteerism in the district.

Patch stopped and chatted with a number of people at various projects in the city. Bonney Lake Lions Club member Denise Bowers, who also serves as advisor to the Bonney Lake High School Leo Club, shared with us that her team was helping to install a sign for the Veterans Memorial Committee across Main Street Street from the Justice Center indicating this was the future site of the memorial.

Chili Sabin is a junior at Bonney Lake High School and took on the project of landscape improvements on a large triangle of land between Main Street and the restaurant. Completion of the project leads him toward becoming an Eagle Scout. He was busy Saturday supervising assorted friends, family and teammates from his wrestling team in the work. Pierce County Councilman Dan Roach was also on hand to support Sabin.

Sabin's mom, Alessandra Conti reflected, "It's very gratifying that he can now come by and see his work all the time. That and it's fun to watch him take charge."

A few hundred feet down the road at the post office, more volunteers including a dozen or so from and from out of the area helped with clean-up as well. Steed McGuire, from Lacey, said he was here for a service project as part of his military aviation unit.

Have pictures from your group's work today? Share them with us on Patch!