Volunteers help clean-up historic site's prairie

WEST BRANCH-In honor of National Park Week, volunteers took to clean-up and protect West Branch's Herbert Hoover National Historical Site.  About half dozen volunteers spent Saturday morning cutting down trees to preserve the prairie.   The clean-efforts help restore an essential part of the city's legacy.  The loyal group of volunteers maintains the park so people there can continue to enjoy the green space.

"This is West Branch as far as I'm concerned,” said volunteer Shannon Stubbs.

Lifelong resident Shannon Stubbs spent Saturday morning in her hometown cleaning up the prairie at the Herbert Hoover National Historic Site.  It's a labor of love.

"I have just been chopping down stuff to try get it to find in the trucks,” said Stubbs.

Park Ranger Adam Parto and his crew put these pink ties on Mulberry trees and other greenery that disturb the native grassland.

"We're going take them out and we're going to keep this a grass land rather than a shrub land,” said Park Ranger Adam Parto.

And the wet weather didn't slow them down.

"It might be a little soggy out there but it hasn't affected us too much,” said Parto.

"It helps control erosion and run-off. It's our best land management technique,” said Parto.

These trees will be used again.

"We're going to turn it into mulch and maybe end up in someone's garden or maybe the trees around here,” said Parto.

And more than just environmental reasons, the historic site is a gathering place for people in the community.

"I know so many people who walk their dogs here.  I walk here every day.  You know it's just part of town,” said Stubbs.

It's a family affair at the park and at the clean-up.

"I like to work outside and I try to bring my nephew here,” said Stubbs.

The group meets twice a year for annual clean-ups in April and in September.