By Spencer Dixon

Salisbury Post

SALISBURY — Dan Nicholas Park is getting some much-needed maintenance thanks to Husqvarna’s new outreach program.

Husqvarna sent 40 volunteers from its headquarters in Charlotte to clean and manicure the garden at the front gate as well as the two-mile-long Persimmon Branch trail.

The outdoor power equipment company has volunteers from departments such as marketing, sales and inventory planning assisting with the project.

Jeff Dewosky, vice president and general manager of the Husqvarna brand, participated as well.

Dan Nicholas is the first park Husqvarna has assisted, but the project is part of the company’s global initiative to make parks accessible and safe for communities.

“Our company believes parks will become increasingly important to people in the future, so we need to do our part to help maintain them,” said Dewosky.

Dan Nicholas was chosen as the first project thanks to Rowan County native and Husqvarna employee Lee Withers.

“I was given the challenge and picked the park I knew as an amazing community asset, Dan Nicholas,” said Withers. “It’s rewarding to work for a company that is a steward of nature with deep-rooted values in nature and sustainability.”

Dan Nicholas’ largest need is the Persimmon Branch Trail. Storm damage, dead trees, overhanging limbs and overgrown brush are just a few of the problems.

Volunteers used hedge clippers, chain saws, pole saws and leaf blowers to clean up the trail. By the end of the day, it was cleaner and safer for the community to enjoy.

Dan Nicholas may not be the only park in Rowan County to get the Husqvarna treatment, Dewosky said. The company is looking to assist parks close to its headquarters in Charlotte, so the volunteers may return to help with other parks within the county in the future.