Volunteers needed to install equipment in Cloudcroft's Zenith Park on Saturday

Village officials in Cloudcroft are asking for volunteers to help install playground equipment at Zenith Park on Saturday, Nov. 18.

Project Coordinator Vyanca Vega said the New Mexico Department of Finance and Administration provided the $820,000 Recreational Grant to purchase the equipment, all that's missing is helping hands. The Village will provide tools and items for assembly, but encouraged all volunteers to bring personal protective equipment, Vega said.

Mayor Bill Denney said local military families have signed up to help, and hoped others who volunteer gain a sense of pride for their community by contributing to this project.

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Denney said the volunteers will replace equipment that is nearly 20 years old. He said in that time it has accumulated rust, and parts of the equipment have broken becoming dangerous.

"It was not as nice to begin with so with the recreation grant we essentially purchased an entire new park as far as playground equipment goes. Our public works has cleared out the old equipment and we'll fix what we can for other purposes or playgrounds," Denney said.

"We have new pickle ball courts and food booths for events. I just love the community involvement because it gives them a little more ownership and pride in what we have. If we can get volunteers for that day, it would help us a ton."

He said if this volunteer event works out, he hopes to recruit volunteers for a similar project.

Interested persons should call Vega at 575-682-2411, extension 8 for more information and to sign up to volunteer.

Juan Corral can be reached at JCorral@gannett.com or on X, formerly Twitter, at @Juan36Corr.

This article originally appeared on Alamogordo Daily News: Volunteers needed to install equipment in Cloudcroft's Zenith Park