Barclays Center and National Grid clean up Prospect Park

With the sun shining and clear skies, 40 employees from Barclays Center and National Grid arrived in Prospect Park on Friday, July 26 for their “Summer SpruceUp.”

“I am volunteering for everyone else who uses the park, making it safe for those who use it and for them to enjoy,” explained Richard L., an employee from National Grid.

“We’re all very busy, but its very  important for us to help out in the community,” added National Grid employee Katie Rizarry.

The group spent around three hours getting their hands dirty to beautify the park, using supplies provided by the two sponsoring groups, such as shirts, gloves and sunscreen provided by Barclays. Their task for the day, as described by Prospect Park Alliance seasonal volunteer Kari Williams, who greeted them, was to tackle “another big weeding project”: ridding the park of mugwort, a plant used in herbal medicine.

Following their introduction, the volunteers were split into three groups. Two tackled the mugwort using digging forks, while the other got to work on litter removal.

This is the third year Barclays has teamed up with the park and the two companies came prepared with plenty of helping hands, from both employees and interns.

“This partnership came about three years ago as we prepared to move the team to Brooklyn,” said Jeff Scott, director of communication relations for the Brooklyn Nets. “We wanted to align ourselves with a reputable non-profit organization, Prospect Park seemed like the right fit.”

At the first clean-up, two years ago, both Nets players and dancers helped out but, they could not attend this year since they are in their off-season.