Student Spurs Cleanup Effort At Skate Park

By Kendra Bobowick

When dropping her son Adam off at the Dickinson skate park one day, Donna Mangiafico saw that Parks and Recreation Director Amy Mangold was already there. Ms Mangiafico said to Adam, a Newtown High School sophomore: “There is the Parks and Recreation director picking up trash.”

Ms Mangold explained, “I will always pick up trash, and usually the kids will help if they are there…” Remembering the day Adam and his mother found her cleaning up roughly one year ago, she said, “That’s when [Donna] told me about her desire to see her kids contribute…what she saw inspired volunteerism.”

Adam had wanted to form a skate club, and Ms Mangiafico saw an opportunity. “I wanted him to turn it into a project. Rather than just skate after school.”

Her desire to see her son help in his community was not a new idea, however. She said, “All three of my kids were ‘required’ to play a high school sport or join a club or do a community service project.” Her son Adam is the youngest. His sister Faith has started college and his older brother PJ is a high school junior. Between the three, she said, “They have been involved in many things.”

Why? Ms Mangiafico said, “I volunteer, my husband volunteers; it’s something we were raised to do — more than our share.” She said, “My husband always says that there are people who don’t do their share and there are people who do more than their share and it’s good to know who you are.”

She is raising her children with that concept in mind.

For nearly 12 months Adam has been picking up trash and helping keep the skate park clean. “He does a great job cleaning up,” his mother said. “There is a difference. When the younger kids see him cleaning, they jump in, too.”

Ms Mangold said, “Since he started I have noticed a large improvement. I think it’s because he is a good role model.”

Adam said, “I guess there is a change.” Although he has not been to the park much since winter began, he said, “My mom still gets e-mails that it’s cleaner.” He explained that some of his friends have started to help him in his cleanup efforts. By spring he hopes to start a recycling project. Although there are trash bins on site, he has had to take the recycling home to dispose of it. He intends to place a recycle box at the skate park when the weather warms, he said.

Considering all the town’s parks overall, Ms Mangold said, “I think we should be as green as we can and pursue recycling at all our parks. Other groups in town do volunteer recycling projects, and Adam will soon join that effort at the skate park.”His recycling fits in with a goal of Ms Mangold’s to work with different groups to make a larger scale recycling effort a success.

Those interested in coordinating volunteer recycling efforts with the Parks and Recreation Department should call 203-270-4340.