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Denver Parks Welcomes Day Of Service Volunteers

DENVER (CBS4) - The Denver Parks and Recreation Department cares for 240 urban parks, that's 6,000 acres. Denver is one of the only cities in the country to also have a mountain park system consisting of 40 conservation spaces, adding another 16,000 acres.

"Those volunteer projects have a great impact on our parks system because we only have 120 full-time employees that take care of that 6,000 acres of park land," said Scott Gilmore, interim executive director of Denver Parks and Recreation.

Last year volunteer hours saved the city $600,000. That's one of the reasons the department participates in Xcel Energy's Day of Service.

"If we can get families out to do these activities, it makes them investing the community park in their neighborhood," Gilmore told CBS4.

This year's Day of Service project is located at the park at 41st Avenue and Kirk Street in Green Valley Ranch. Volunteers will be painting the pavilion, weeding and mulching tree beds, and sprucing up the playground. The project calls for 220 volunteers and there are still slots available. The whole family is invited to take part.

"We want everybody to come out. Everybody and anybody who wants to come out on the Day of Service. We want them here to make this park the best park in the city," Gilmore added.

Xcel Energy's Day of Service is Saturday, Sept. 12 from 8 a.m. to 11 a.m.

LINK: Sign up for Xcel Energy's Day of Service

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