A crew of volunteers spent Friday morning cleaning up a recreation area in Hometown.

The area receiving the attention was John M. Ryan Memorial Park, which covers 26 acres and is located along Ye Olde Hauto Road and Keller Road on Hometown's eastern end.The workers labored several hours collecting garbage and other debris, gathering enough junk to fill the back of a pick-up truck.A golf cart was even located on the property, and the volunteers dismantled the cart in order to haul it out from the park.Rush Township Supervisor Robert Leibensperger was among those volunteering his time to clean up the park. He said the township appreciates the efforts of those who pitch in to keep things clean."We are always looking for volunteers to help build up and maintain our parks," said Leibensperger. "It's everybody's property and community. The more people that pitch in, the better it becomes.Leibensperger added that the township is hoping to further improve the park area, which could become a trail link to the Schuylkill River and Delaware and Lehigh heritage corridors. Grant funding is being sought to pursue the development.Residents Walter J. Taylor, Raymond Boulanger, Harry Eisley and Carmen Forke were among those who lent a hand with the clean-up.Matt Hope of Hope's Towing and Collision, Tamaqua, lent the use of equipment to assist with the project.