ELK GROVE - Approximately 600 volunteers from the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints converged on 15 Cosumnes Community Services District (CSD) parks in Elk Grove on Saturday, May 7, to provide of variety of maintenance services.

As part of the Mormon Church’s Helping Hands Day, the volunteers pruned, weeded, planted and painted to help prepare some of the CSD’s most heavily used parks for the busy summer season.

“We’re extremely appreciative of the church’s efforts,” said Bob Roessler, Cosumnes CSD Parks & Recreation administrator.  “The impact of having so many volunteers committing their focused energies to our facilities is tremendous, and we and area residents benefit greatly from that generosity.” 

The volunteer maintenance efforts included pruning and weeding at Gage, Hrepich, Beeman, Smedberg, Admundson, Perry, Jones, Fales, Del Meyer, Fallbrook, Karamanos and Feickert Parks; repairing and installing lake edge and dog park cobbl

ELK GROVE - As part of its effort to reduce community fire risks, the Cosumnes Fire Department this year has identified nearly 500 parcels in its service area requiring weed abatement as part of its annual Weed Abatement Program.

Each year new parcels identified as a “seasonal and recurrent nuisance” are added to the Weed Abatement Program through complaints, encroachment of new development, or Cosumnes Fire Department recommendations.  For 2011, 32 parcels have been added to the program while 55 have been removed.

The Cosumnes Community Services District Weed Abatement Ordinance requires parcels of two acres or less to have weeds cut no higher than two inches. Parcels larger than two acres must have a 30-foot fire break around all structures.

“This is an important part of our fire prevention program and has been very successful in reducing incidents during the hot summer months,” said George Apple, Cosumnes Fire Department assistant chief.&nbs

ELK GROVE - Is there an abandoned vehicle in your neighbor’s front yard? Junk and rubbish left at the end of your street? A vacant home with overgrown weeds? If so, the City of Elk Grove wants to work with you.

Elk Grove’s annual citywide Spring Cleaning Program kicks off this week. As of Wednesday, City of Elk Grove’s Code Enforcement Department and a team of volunteers have begun combing every street in Elk Grove to tackle blight and nuisances throughout the City. Officers will be concentrating on properties with junk and debris, high weeds, inoperable or abandoned vehicles and safety hazards.

Code enforcement officers will work proactively with the community to look for code violations, and will educate property owners about the city’s Municipal Code to encourage voluntary compliance.