A park in downtown Brookhaven is undergoing spring cleaningthanks in part to a local civic group.

The Brookhaven-Lincoln County Chamber of Commerce Ambassadorgroup has taken on the new project of cleaning up the park at thesouth end of the railroad depot.

Ambassador Chairman Imogene Ryan said the group wanted to domore than their standard duties and decided to take the park on asa project.

“We’re going to plant shrubs, flowers and maintain the park whenwe’re finished,” Ryan said.

Ambassadors have been working at the park for the past severalweeks cutting back shrubbery and trees and planting new flowers.Ryan said ambassadors will continue to oversee the park and makesure it remains clean and neat.

Chamber of Commerce Executive Vice President Cliff Brumfieldsaid the ambassadors provide an important service to the chamber bystaying in contact with businesses and taking on projects such asthe park.

“Ambassadors are a very important area of the Chamber ofCommerce. They are our liaisons to the business community,”Brumfield said.

The Chamber Ambassadors were looking for a beautificationproject of a downtown area, he said. Someone had noticed the parkat the end of the railroad depot could use a little sprucing up andthey decided to focus on that area, especially with the SpringExtravaganza coming up Saturday, Brumfield said.

They hope by fixing up the park that people in the downtown areawill want to stop by and visit and enjoy the park, he explained.Ryan agreed with Brumfield.

“We hope to encourage people to come to town and make downtownpreservable,” Ryan said.

She said ambassadors are very committed to their jobs -ambassador and otherwise. All of the volunteers also have otherjobs, so they commit to spend a few hours after work to make thepark a nicer venue, she said.

“Businesses are very supportive of letting us take the time,”Ryan said of the ambassadors’ employers.

Ryan challenged other civic clubs or organizations to take up abeautification project.

“We hope to encourage other clubs and organizations to beautifyan area,” Ryan said.

Ryan said the group hopes to take on future projects aswell.

“It’s fun. We thoroughly enjoy what we do,” she said.