A mob of kids armed with spray paint and Pine-Sol descended on Wade Bowl Park on Monday.
The fifth-graders from Cathedral School washed off playground equipment, than covered it with fresh gold and blue paint.
"Oh, that looks good," said Nathan Peterson as his teacher, Amber Nielsen, added blue to the top of the slide.
They also picked up garbage ranging from cigarette butts and fast food containers to old jackets and bottles.
"I think it's pretty fun 'cause it's for the community," said Sebastian Lane as he cleaned off the slide.
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The fifth graders said their whole school takes a trip to the park every year; many play there with their families. But kids who come to play have to read all the bad words and graffiti left on the equipment by vandals, said Kacy Larson.
As their teacher Amber Nielsen said: "This park really needed a makeover."
Once it's freshly painted, said her classmate Hannah Hughes, "we just hope they don't do it again, for the community and the little kids."
The idea to spruce up Wade Bowl came from the students themselves. Nielsen said she sent home a survey to parents, who indicated they would like to see the students take on more service learning projects. Although the school does a lot of food drives, Nielsen said she wanted to get the fifth-graders out into the community more. So she lofted the plan to students, who made it their own.
In addition to tackling Wade Park, students spent hours picking up garbage around town and planned a car wash fundraiser for the Special Olympics, which will take place from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. June 2 in the parking lot of Cathedral of Christ the King Church.
"They came up with all of these," Nielsen said. "I can't take any credit."
Monday morning there was no shortage of volunteers to coat the equipment with 12 cans of blue and gold paint, which are, incidentally, Cathedral's school colors.
"It's fun," said Grant Sorensen.
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Students said they were glad they could help. And they hoped the clean-up would leave a lasting impression.
"I hope people treasure this park for generations to come," Hannah said.
