

Story and photos by Doug Petrowski
A number of local churches are putting their faith into action around Mountlake Terrace by volunteering to clean up, repair and improve city parks and public spaces. Brier Church, Creekside Church, and the local ward of The Church of Latter Day Saints have all participated in volunteer efforts in Mountlake Terrace this year.
For Brandon Hudson, pastor of Brier Church, 22730 Brier Road, leading church members and attendees in community service is part of the calling.
“We believe the purpose of the church, following the teaching and life example of Jesus, is to serve both people’s spiritual as well as physical needs,” Hudson said. “We try to best use the resources we’ve been given to help the people and community surrounding the church.” Hudson points to the church’s recent efforts in Firefighters Memorial Park, 3900-228th St. S.W., as an example of this goal.
Hudson led a team of volunteers from Brier Church that raked parts of the park grounds, repaired and painted picnic tables and benches, and pressure-washed walkways and the memorial at Firefighters Park on July 28. After being contacted by Hudson, city officials suggested the church take on the work projects at the park, allowing access and supplying them with the wood and painted needed for the bench repairs.
The volunteer efforts of the church accentuate the other improvements made at the park since the old Fire Station 18 was demolished and removed from the site earlier this year. The city recently added new grass to the park when the fire station use to sit, and has plans for moving some of the playground equipment within the park soon.
Creekside Church, 7011-226th Pl. S.,. has been involved with periodic work on the Interurban Trail for a couple of months. The paved trail runs along Mountlake Terrace’s western edge from the county line north to 212th Street.
“We go out once a month, usually the second Saturday of the month, to help clean up the trail,” reported Jason Deuman, Executive Pastor of Creekside Church. “We do this to serve our neighbors who use the trail and to show that we care about our neighbors.”
Deuman added that the church usually has a group of volunteers involved in the city’s honoring of Earth Day by cleaning up park and public spaces each April.
The Mountlake Terrace Ward of the LDS Church sent a team into the Montesa neighborhood of 72nd Place just north of the Ballinger Playfield late last month. Volunteers cleared pathways and removed debris and overgrowth in a small pocket park. The ward also participated in last April’s Earth Day cleanup efforts sponsored by the city.
Churches or any community organization interested in volunteering in efforts around the city are encouraged to contact Ken Courtmanch, City of Mountlake Terrace Parks and Facilities Superintendent at KCourtmanch@ci.mlt.wa.us, or at 425-771-1811.
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