Lawrence Park will receive some spring cleaning from its longtime support group as part of Earth Day activities.

The Friends of Lawrence Park will hold a weed pull and cleanup on Wednesday, April 22, which will be widely recognized as Earth Day.

“People have been doing a pretty good job of cleaning up, so there isn’t a whole lot of mess there,” said Dave Downey, president of Friends of Lawrence Park.

The group enlisted a local expert to come and help identify which types of plants are weeds that need to be pulled. They also will pick up trash and do whatever else needs to be done.

Downey said the Earth Day cleanup is a new development for the organization that strives to enhance the park. Friends of Lawrence Park helped create the central Kalispell green space in the mid-1980s. Since then, the group has helped to bring several improvements, including play equipment, the pavilion and doggy bags.

“It’s heart-warming to see people using it,” Downey said.

The cleanup begins Wednesday at 10 a.m. at the Lawrence Park picnic pavilion. Downey said the public is welcome to lend a hand. They expect to work until noon.

Lawrence Park also will be the site of an Arbor Day event on Friday. Kalispell Parks Superintendent Fred Bicha said local third-graders will be on hand to participate in various educational activities throughout the day.

The event will end with an Arbor Day ceremony and the planting of trees.

Between Arbor Day and Earth Day, Bicha said it’s a great time to celebrate outdoor facilities, as well as groups such as Friends of Lawrence Park.

“Our partners are very vital to our parks,” he said. “They’re kind of what gets things going.”

Reporter Matt Hudson may be reached at 758-4459 or by email at mhudson@dailyinterlake.com.