DANVILLE – Keep Vermilion County Beautiful is calling all park lovers and spring cleaners to join forces to clean up two area parks, Kennekuk County Park and Carver Park in Danville.

The all-volunteer organization, KVCB, is recruiting volunteers for both events, which will be held about a month apart.

Last year, hundreds of volunteers descended on Kickapoo State Park for the annual KVCB Great American Clean Up, and organizers hope the same happens this year on April 24 at Kennekuk and May 22 at Carver Park.

Ken Konsis, director of the Vermilion County Conservation District, said the more volunteers the better as the county park has a solid list of ways people can help spruce up the park, including painting, litter pickup, Lake Mingo shoreline cleanup and more.

Steve Lane, special services superintendent for the city of Danville, said at Carver, volunteers will focus on litter removal not only in the park but in the general area, including cleaning up the banks along Stony Creek.

Lane said the cleanup area will be bounded by Williams Street to the north, Seminary Street to the south, the Norfolk and Southern railroad tracks to the east and Washington Street to the west.

Lane said a lot of illegal dumping happens near Stony Creek, so the larger items will be removed a piled up for city workers to remove later.

Lane said the park is in good shape and clean except for the areas that aren't as open and accessible. That's where volunteers are needed to just walk those areas and pick up.

Carver Park will undergo some major renovations this year, and Lane said this event will raise awareness about those planned improvements, and get people excited about those changes.

At Kennekuk, volunteers will be removing more than debris.

Konsis said the non-native honeysuckle bush grows well in wooded areas and chokes out everything else, including native plants, and the best way to get to it is by foot. Volunteers can help cut out the bushes and treat the area to keep them from growing again.

"Hopefully it will be a nice day and people can come enjoy the park while they help us out," Konsis said.