From a press release for the event…

Make a Difference at the 5^th Annual Park Renewal Day

Register Your Team Now to Compete for $1,000 Grand Prize

September 2012 – On Saturday, November 3^rd, volunteers will return to Dearborn Park to root out invasive plants for the 5^th annual Park Renewal Day competition. Each year, this event has over 150 participants – all competing for prize money sponsored by Renewal Design-Build – clear more than an acre of English ivy and Chinese privet from the park. The event is organized by Renewal Design-Build, DeKalb County Parks, the City of Decatur’s Active Living division, and Park Pride. View video of past Park Renewal Day competitions here.

Teams will compete for the grand prize of $1,000, while second and third place teams will take home $500 and $300, respectively. Each team’s assigned plot will be scored by local experts and County park officials. A live band, food, and the awarding of prizes follow the competition.

Any group willing to help the park and raise money is eligible to compete. In past years, teams have included school organizations, neighborhood associations, nonprofits, and Scout troops. Last year’s grand prize went to Boy Scouts Troop 18. The winnings funded scholarships for boys who could not afford the Troop’s annual dues, uniforms, camps, and equipment. The Decatur High School Super Close Up Club used their second place winnings toward travel grants for their annual spring trip to Washington D.C.

Interested groups should register as soon as possible; the event is limited to ten teams. For more photos and registration information, visit ParkRenewalDay.com.

Disclosure: Renewal is a DM sponsor

DHS teacher Chris Billingsley writes in and sends these pics…

Two DHS Close Up teams competed at the fourth Dearborn Park/Renewal cleanup on Saturday, November 12. Twenty six students and several brave parents spent the morning removing privit ivy during the three hour competion. DHS Super Close Up came in second place and won $500 to be used to provide travel grants for CU sstudents to attend the 2012 Washington, D.C. trip. It was a great day for Dearborn Park, Renewal Construction (sponsor of the competition) but most of all the DHS students, who learned something about “service over self” (the motto of the Decatur Rotary Club which had a team at the competition.)

Kelly sends along this press release…

October 2011 – On Saturday, November 12^th, participants will return to Dearborn Park to root out invasive plants for the 4^th annual Park Renewal Day competition. Each year, this event has over 150 participants – all competing for prize money sponsored by Renewal Design-Build – clear more than an acre of English ivy and Chinese privet from the park. View video of past Park Renewal Day competitions here.

Teams will compete for the grand prize of $1,000, while second, third, and fourth place teams will take home $500, $300, and $200, respectively. Each team’s assigned plot will be scored by County Park experts. A live band, food, and the awarding of prizes follow the competition.

Any group willing to help the park and raise money is eligible and should register as soon as possible. Teams in past years have included school organizations, neighborhood associations, nonprofits, and Scout troops. Last year, the Decatur High School Close Up Club and the Midway Woods Neighborhood Association tied for first place. Many winning teams have donated their prize money to other causes.

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From Renewal’s Kelly Cheek…

1st prize – tie between Ivy League [Midway Woods Neighborhood Association] and the Decatur High Close Up Club. They shared the grand prize of $1k and took home $500 each.

2nd prize – P.I.G.S(People in Gloves Pulling Ivy Gleefully) [Decatur First United Methodist]

3rd prize –  Beast of the Brush [Academe of the Oaks]

Judges included Mayor Floyd and former Hawks player and current sports analyst, Mike Glenn.

Thanks to Linda for reminding me about this!

A few more pics, courtesy of Lampe-Farley, after the jump!

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Kelly Cheek at Renewal Design Build alerts us that team registration for this year’s Park Renewal Day in Dearborn Park is now open to the kudzu-ripping public!  Here are all the details you need…

On Saturday, November 6th, participants will return to Dearborn Park to root out invasive plants for the 3rd annual Park Renewal Day competition. Each year, this joint effort of Renewal Design-Build, the DeKalb County Parks Department and City of Decatur’s Active Living Division, has well over 100 participants – all competing for prize money sponsored by Renewal – clear more than an acre of English ivy and Chinese privet from the park.

Teams will compete for the grand prize of $1,000, while second and third place teams will take home $300 and $200, respectively. Each team’s assigned plot will be scored by County Park experts and local celebrities. Food, music and the awarding of prizes follow the competition.

Any group willing to come together to help the park and raise money is eligible and should register [at www.ParkRenewalDay.com] as soon as possible. Teams in past years have included school organizations, neighborhood associations, and Scout troops. Last year, the Decatur High School Close Up Club used its prize winnings to help fund a spring trip to Gettysburg.