The center got a $5,000 grant from the Gannett Foundation to perform the work, which was the pet project this year of The Baxter Bulletin. Walmart also matched Gannett funds to put in a new volleyball net that will allow the facility to host tournaments.
Painting of the youth center’s gym, common areas and skateboard park had not been done since 2004, according to youth center manager Kelly Lewis.
Also involved in the project was the Baxter County Master Gardeners, who ripped out overgrown shrubs, planted new plants and put down two truckloads of mulch.
In all, more than four dozen people spent the day with brushes, rollers and tape, carefully prepping walls and painting around trim with small brushes. It was an extraordinary effort, as also painted were the center’s restrooms, office and outside pillars. A total of 70 gallons of paint was used to put a brand-new look on the facility.
Mothers, daughters, fathers, sons, grandfathers and grandmothers all grabbed rollers to paint thousands of square feet of wall space.
Billy George was at the youth center painting beside his eight-year-old daughter Marisa George, who likes to play at the center.
“I like to draw, paint and eat,” Marisa said, of what she enjoys most at the youth center. “I also like to spin around in the gym.”
Several employees of The Baxter Bulletin (which is owned by Gannett) also were at the youth center throughout the day, paint brushes and rollers in hand, to help out.
“This is the type of project that brings the community together,” said Bulletin managing editor Bob Heist, as he rolled paint. “It serves a great community asset, and from this event, as people talk to each other, the seeds of other community projects can grow. That’s what Make a Difference Day is all about.”
http://www.baxterbulletin.com
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