Working together, the PMUA, Plainfield Public Works Department, City dignitaries along with several volunteer groups, assisted the First Park Baptist Church in a clean-up of its historical grave yard site Thursday, May 10th, located on Plainfield Avenue. Mayor Sharon Robinson-Briggs took on this project as part of the “Unify to Beautify” program which includes 4 site clean-ups during spring 2007. Making remarks during the opening ceremony, John Louise, Superintendent of Public Works thanked the volunteers while saying “We give the PMUA big thanks. Our relationship with the PMUA has never been better. I can call Rob Kearney at the last minute. I’m always there for you guys too”. The PMUA responded by supplying 4 street sweepers which cleaned the property between the fence around the grave yard and out to the curb. Additionally, PMUA supplied a 30 gallon container used to dispose of all the debris collected. PMUA then picked up the container and delivered it to the transfer station to be dumped. This clean-up was needed because the grave yard was extremely overgrown and litter ridden. The grave yard is of historical significance because it is the burial place of several soldiers dating back to the 1700’s. It is a large piece of property and maintained by a one-person grounds keeper employed by the church. Unfortunately, upkeep is difficult because the property is so large. Other groups which volunteered during the clean-up include children from the New Covenant Christian Academy, members of the First Baptist Church, Edison Job Corps-Union County Prosecutor’s Office, and the Plainfield Youth Corps. All the volunteers, many of whom were children, were split up into 4 groups and responsible to clean a section of the grave yard. Working all day, this total community effort resulted in a significant improvement to the property. Grass is cut, leaves are raked, bushes are trimmed and litter is gone.