GRAMPIAN – Approximately 100 people took part in a “Take Back the Park” event that was recently held at Bilger’s Rocks in Grampian.
The rock park, recreation area and facilities have been an ongoing target of vandals, and it was “reclaimed” by members of the Bilger’s Rocks Association and area citizens.
Various local businesses, non-profit organizations and boy scout troops joined citizen volunteers and Clearfield County Commissioner John Sobel, said BRA President Dennis Biancuzzo.
Biancuzzo was very pleased with the turnout, adding that the “pride and determination of Clearfield County were on display.”
For example, he said Bob Tubbs of the Lowe’s Store in DuBois assembled two brand-new picnic tables and Carole Hart Eby showed up with donuts and a monetary donation.
“I can’t do much physically,” Eby said, “but I can contribute in some way.” Others provided trail cameras, Biancuzzo said, that will help capture future park vandalism.
Area boy scouts, with help from others, trimmed trees, gathered loose branches, mowed and collected trash throughout the park and recreation area.
Calvin Dusch, owner of CK Print Shop, designed the annual Bilger’s Rocks T-shirt as a fundraiser. He had a goal to sell 100 shirts with money raised to benefit the BRA.
As of May 16, Biancuzzo said the shop had sold over 110 shirts. They can be purchased online at: https://ckprintshop.com/products/bilgers-rocks-t-shirt-benefit.
He said the association has also created a GoFundMe campaign to help recover costs for repairs and to purchase additional trail cameras.
Biancuzzo said a second “Take Back the Park” event has been scheduled for Saturday, May 23, beginning at 12 p.m. Everyone is welcome.