VALDOSTA – In a few months, the Annette Howell Turner Center for the Arts will debut its Art Park. 

But first, the center has to prepare the .31-acre designated green space for a stage, picnic tables, a lending library and maybe even some hammocks.

On Saturday, Turner enlisted the help of Keep Lowndes/Valdosta Beautiful as part of the Great American Cleanup.

Sementha Mathews, Turner’s executive director, raked leaves, shoveled dried cement and assisted the volunteers in other ways as they cleared out the wooded area.

When Mathews took leadership at the art center last year, she said she saw opportunity in the unused green space.

The Art Park will complete Turner’s campus and could also be utilized as a venue for birthday parties and weddings, she said.

“The pavilion is really one of the centerpieces over here which would allow us to take the classrooms from inside the building to the outside during the cooler months of the year,” Mathews said.

KLVB’s yearly cleanup was a chance for Turner to be able to clear the brush area, she said.

“They’re just a huge support,” she said. “It feels great because we couldn’t pay for this kind of service, and it’s so wonderful that the people that are helping us today are the very recipients that we want to see at the Art Park.”

Mathews said she believes volunteers will have a sense of ownership and will want to take care of the Art Park.

Volunteers from Home Depot’s Team Depot group helped Saturday. The volunteers agreed they would want to visit the Art Park once established.

Aquavious Core said he only recently heard of the Art Park.

“It’s always great to, in some way, impact the community in many ways,” he said. “That just seemed like such a great idea to create something like this.”

He said it would allow young children to explore their artistic and creative sides.

Jeordi Booker said the mission of Team Depot is to promote community events.

“It wants to get active in the community which is why we love working there,” he said.

Jimeson Davis Jr. participated in the Great American Cleanup to get more involved with the community, he said.

“It helps others see and (will) encourage them to do it,” he said.

After learning of the cleanup Friday, Natalie Kuhlmann decided to volunteer with her son, William Kuhlmann.

Natalie Kuhlmann wanted to contribute to creating a better place, especially with Earth Day happening on April 22.

Her son said it’s important to help the environment for one reason.

“So the humans can live,” William Kuhlmann said.

Molly Ferrier, KLVB board member, said she believes a clean neighborhood is essential, and that, by bringing people together, they’re investing in the community and maintaining a better, cleaner place.

The Art Park will be part of building a community, she said.

“Being able to have a place where you can bring your kids and your family and do different activities outside in the community together is just really important,” Ferrier said. “It’s what builds a better community.”

As part of the Great American Cleanup, volunteers also worked near the AG Pro (John Deere dealer) at North Valdosta Road, in the City of Hahira and at Northside Drive near J and K Foodmart.