Hurley Park has been in existence for over 30 years. During these years, we have had numerous volunteers serving in roles ranging from helping in the park to being a board member. Without these volunteers, Hurley Park would not be what it is today.

With National Volunteer Day on Sept. 21, I thought it would be fitting for this week’s article to be about volunteers and how readers can help Hurley Park for the next 30 years.

Whether you volunteer an hour, day, month or year, every little bit helps — no matter how big or small the task. I often receive requests about how to get involved or how to help the park remain the treasure it is today. So I have provided a few ideas to motivate you to volunteer at Hurley Park one day soon.

We recently received our first garden volunteer, Julie Apone. She has been an absolute blessing to the park with her help in the gardens. With the various storms the park faced this year, it has been beneficial having a volunteer to help the clean-up go smoother.

Apone has helped weed, propagate seedlings and cuttings, and worked with numerous Hurley Park programs. Hurley Park regulars love having her in the park, and she has become engrained into the park itself. It is our goal to have more volunteers so we can start a Friends of Hurley Park group.

Volunteering to become a board member is another way to help Hurley Park remain the treasure we all love. The board members are some of the strongest supporters of Hurley Park. They help with programs, financial tasks, park concerns and so much more. Sometimes, they are the voice of Hurley Park when the staff cannot be and we are eternally grateful for all of their hard work in helping make Hurley Park one of the best.

Another way to help the park, not necessarily by volunteering, is by making a donation. There are 48 gardens, structures and a mile of walking paths that would not be here today if it was not for the generosity of donors.

These are the items that people see every day, but there are other things such as the irrigation system that people do not pay attention to on a daily basis. Our irrigation system is 30 years old and needs a lot of work. Donations will help to get this system fixed when needed.

Replacement plants are needed when plants are no longer thriving or have been lost due to storms. The walking paths have taken a beating with the storms and need replacement and repairs.

None of the things mentioned are the most noticeable but they are needed nonetheless. Donations enable us to pay for replacements to continue developing Hurley Park for the next generation.

If you are interested in volunteering at Hurley Park, we would love to have you. Volunteers must have a background check completed before starting. For more information on volunteering, contact us by phone at 704-638-4459 or email at danelle.cutting@salisburync.gov.

For more information on Hurley Park or to make a donation, please visit: https://salisburync.gov/Government/Parks-and-Recreation/Parks/Hurley-Park, and like us on Facebook and Instagram @HurleyParkSalisbury.