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reer & Technical Center students paired with Youngstown CityScape and city officials Wednesday to beautify their campus.
"It creates a great opportunity for community service and getting outdoors and being physically active," Adam Lee, program director of CityScape, said.
Students grabbed gloves and hand tools provided by Home Depot and cleared dead tree roots, litter and invasive species from the areas surrounding the downtown center on East Wood Street.
Junior and senior students took part, working in two shifts throughout the morning and afternoon.
After cleaning, students placed a mix of native steep slope seeds and spread straw around the hillside to near the campus.
The day's cleanup efforts were in celebration of Earth Day, but organizers hoped the project would help teach students the value of caring for their environment.
"Seeing the importance of addressing the environment helps to be a feel-good activity, to help them feel better about their campus, downtown and the city," Lee said.
Youngstown Councilman Julius T. Oliver, D-1st Ward, came out to help. He said he believes projects like this are great for students to be guardians of their community.
"Whenever something is aesthetically pleasing to you, not only does it make you feel better, but it helps you take care of it more -- it helps you see the value in your own area and surroundings," Oliver said.
The councilman said he believes the project gives students a therapeutic outlet, considering recent violence in the community.
The students' volunteer efforts will help re-establish native species and benefit pollinator species to create a green space.