Dan Porter Park got an overdue makeover Saturday.

About 20 volunteers showed up to the Clinton Community Council’s morning park cleanup on March 4, spending several hours picking up garbage, clearing out invasive species like ivy and holly, and removing lots and lots of blackberry bushes.

The event was organized by the council but run by the Island County Public Works parks department, the leaders of which were quite impressed by the turnout.

Breaking off into small teams, the volunteers focused efforts in the southeastern section of the park, which contains several short trails. Beginning at 10 a.m., crews had within two hours amassed a massive pile of forest refuse, which was then chipped and dispersed back into the woods.

The volunteers were made up of a wide cross section of people, including community council members, Clinton residents and at least one elected official.

Photo courtesy of Jim Swan — Volunteers pick up garbage at Dan Porter Park in Clinton. They were among about 20 people who showed up at community cleanup on Saturday.