By JARED PRATT
jared@du2.byu.edu
Hundreds of hands cleaned the City of Orem Saturday morning during Blitz '98.
Orem's annual neighborhood revitalization project spruced up the Hillcrest II Neighborhood from State Street to the east Orem border and from University Parkway to the south Orem border.
Stacey Spencer, Blitz '98 Coordinator, said more than 1500 people volunteered to help improve their community.
'The purpose of the program was to maximize the vast volunteer resources we have in the community, to beautify neighborhoods and keep them from declining,' Spencer said.
Citizens, religious groups, BYU students and community and civic groups were divided into teams. They all pitched in to help, she said.
'Our college teams are the greatest resources we have,' Spencer said.
Charlene Mackay of the Orem City Manager's Office said the city likes BYU students because of their energy, experience and numbers.
In 1993, surveyors conducted a comprehensive study to look at the condition of Orem. The surveyors looked at housing stock, curbs, gutters, sidewalk and street conditions. They correlated their information with crime and income data. Targeted neighborhoods have been revitalized based on the study, Spencer said.
Dozens of homes were painted, new sidewalks poured, street signs posted and yards and fields were given a maintanance make over.
All done in an effort to improve Orem's looks, crime rate and overall feel.
Hillcrest Park was beautified with new trees, benches, fresh coats of paint covering the pavillion and restrooms, and the placement of new street signs.
Bea Gibb has lived in Orem for several years. Two weeks ago she suffered a mini-stroke. Saturday, however, she was given a stroke of service and love.
'Oh I think it's wonderful! What other area could you live in where people would come and do this,' Gibb said.
Dorothy Strasburg has lived in Orem for 50 years and said she has never seen such a large scale project of this nature.
Those who volunteered their time were pleased to help out.
'We're just down here trying to help out, trying to get to know our community a little bit better and to give a helping hand everywhere we can,' said Tracy Christensen, Orem City Fire Department.
But it wasn't all work. The Blitz was created to be a fun activity, Spencer said.
Corporate sponsors and the city threw a celebration picnic and provided T-shirts for everyone involved.
Food, volleyball, clowns and laughs were the sights at the newly referbished Hillcrest Park when the work was complete.
Strasburg and neighbors agreed Blitz improvements have made their neighborhood a better place to live.