PHOTOS: David Craig Park, The Early Years

stands in the shadows of the Amtrak Bridge along the shore of the , offering a unique waterfront setting in .

But the newest park in town didn't always have so much to offer.

Enter a group of volunteers, who spent hours—and nearly Thanksgiving Day—in 2009, clearing the park of brush and other debris.

Council members Barbara Wagner and Jim Miller made mention of the project's advancement during . 

See the photos in this post, provided by George and Barbara Wagner. Add your own photos of the park to our slideshow.

joked that he caught a bad case of poison ivy in the cleanup effort. Council President Bill Martin chimed in, as well, saying: "You would need a machete to get down to the water. It was a jungle. Mayor, there was poison ivy down there. I saw it."

Martin said the project was done well under budget, and gave kudos to Vulcan Materials for the donation of granite that lines the shoreline, and Aldino Sod Farm for the donation of sod for the lower half of the park.

While the park is essentially ready to go, the sod requires a few more days to settle, Deputy Director of Public Works Bill Reeder said.

The park should be ready for use by the end of the month.

TELL US: Will you visit the park this summer? How would David Craig Park be best used for residents and visitors? Leave a comment.