GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (WOOD) — Volunteers will help clean up and revitalize two historic cemeteries in Grand Rapids Tuesday to boost and protect tourism.
Nearly 70 volunteers painted and cleaned at Greenwood and Oakhill cemeteries Tuesday as part of the 2020 Pure Michigan Governor’s Conference on Tourism.
“What we do is we go around to different locations in Michigan that are either state-run, historical language and we go to work,” Experience Grand Rapids Convention Development Manager Nancy Ruppert explained. “We do any of the cleaning up, painting, restoring that might be needed in the specific building or outside and we’re all volunteers from the hospitality industry.”
“We want to enhance visitor experiences so they have better opportunities to enjoy this beautiful two-block park, enjoy the beautiful historic nature and learn the story of Grand Rapids from the mid-1800s, so part of it is restoring history and investing in our future,” said Patty Janes, the Michigan Cares for Tourism Volunteer Coordinator.
In addition to the volunteer project, the group asked those coming to the conference to bring household and toiletry items to donate to the Ronald McDonald House of Western Michigan.
Over the past eight years, Michigan Cares for Tourism has hosted more than 3,000 volunteers and provided more than $750,000 in supplies, according to a news release.
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