By Lori Dugan
Thatcher, Ariz –On Saturday, April 26, Eastern Arizona College’s Discovery Park welcomed more than 75 youth volunteers for a day of service that brought extensive cleanup and meaningful improvements to the facility’s trails, grounds, and exhibits.
The event was part of the annual Gila Valley Youth – Day of Service, a non-denominational initiative open to youth ages 12 to 18 from across the Gila Valley. It is sponsored by the Pima, Thatcher and Safford Stakes of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
Arriving around 8 a.m., the enthusiastic volunteers were divided into three work teams: One group worked on the upper trails, adding steps and installing a drainage culvert to protect the paths from erosion during heavy rains. They also created a new trail to access the flag circle and added landscaping barriers to improve safety and accessibility.
A second group cleared overgrown vegetation around the Meadows parking area and in the Birdhouse Garden. Using trimmers, rakes and shovels, they “laddered” the willow and mesquite trees—trimming lower branches—to open the area for visitors; while a third group helped restore the Mogollon Pit House replica, mixing traditional mud and straw to patch the structure. The pit house was originally constructed as an Eagle Scout project by Kodey McNair and serves as a hands-on exhibit of early Native American dwelling styles in the Southwest.
Paul Anger, director of Discovery Park, praised the volunteers’ dedication: “We are so grateful for all of these young men and women who came out to clean and help us make EAC Discovery Park beautiful and safe for the community to use and enjoy,” he said. “It was wonderful to be surrounded by these hardworking youth, seeing them laughing and smiling as they accomplished so much. Our Gila Valley youth are amazing.”
Discovery Park hours:
- Outdoor grounds, including the Meadows Park and Nature’s Hide-away trails: Monday through Saturday, 8 a.m. to sundown
- Buildings, including the Polaris Shuttle Simulator and Native American Heritage Museum:
- Monday, Wednesday and Friday: 10 a.m.–noon and 1–3 p.m.
- Tuesday and Thursday: 1–3 p.m.
For more information, contact Discovery Park at (928) 428-6260 or email discoverypark@eac.edu.
