Published: 8/5/2012

Volunteers clean, beautify Detroit sites

ASSOCIATED PRESS

DETROIT -- Dozens of volunteers participated in a cleanup program to beautify Detroit and a number of public schools before the start of classes in September.

Groups worked inside and outside school buildings Saturday as part of ARISE Detroit! Neighborhoods Day.

The annual program targets blighted areas to revive pride in the community.

One group spent the day cleaning Gordon Park on the city's west side.

"Our objective with the park is to undo the bad energy that was there," Al Taylor, Peace Project youth program director, told the Detroit News Saturday. "It was kind of the catalyst, so our posture is to make that into someplace that's a cool place to go, someplace harmonious."

A number of vacant houses were slated for demolition Saturday.

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