On Tuesday, July 10 through Friday, July 13, RecycleForce volunteers will be removing approximately 50,000 pounds of 8 feet high barbed wire in Eagle Creek Park. The removal of this wire will allow the area wildlife to roam freely among the country’s fourth largest municipal park.
RecycleForce, which provides work training for previously incarcerated individuals, is under the direction of the Peace Learning Center. It provides a temporary full time job for ex-convicts, as well as services to aid them in staying out of the criminal justice system and secure full time employment. These employees will remove the fencing and recycle it at no cost to the city. RecycleForce is truly a two-fold do good system, in which both humans and wildlife prosper from its efforts and organization.
Tim Nation, president of Peace Learning Center, remarked, “This is the biggest, most difficult fence to remove in the park and we’re thrilled that all of the material will be responsibly recycled and to support the worthy mission of RecycleForce.”
The Peace Learning Center has, with the help of volunteers, been removing fencing from the park since 1997. After 15 years, it looks like the park will finally be free of its barbed shackles, as will the population of animals which inhabit the park. The remaining portion of fence, which is arduous to remove because of its bulk, is the last domino to fall before the park is more beautiful and safe for animals.
