The hissing of spray cans and slaps of paint filled the air as volunteers, city workers and the area’s councilmember worked together on a Saturday to restore the horseshoe pit at Grupe Park in central Stockton.
The work on the horseshoe pit was one of several improvements initiated by the Stockton Beautification Project, a volunteer-led program within the Clean City Initiative, launched in 2021 to advance new and existing programs aimed at reducing trash accumulation and illegal dumping.
“The whole purpose is to give us a nice, clean city, so getting the involvement of the public and volunteers is crucial,” said District 3 City Councilmember Michael Blower. “To get that additional manpower and people to help, it is really great.”
With guidance from city workers, volunteers grabbed paintbrushes and spray cans and rotated through stations. They painted the wood surrounding the horseshoe pit, the foundation of the pergolas, the gates, and the cement chess tables…