My Turn: Citizen puts ideas into action

Nineteen-year-old Kelsey Prince is a young woman on a mission: to make her hometown of Portales a cleaner place, and to involve other young people of our community in the effort.

It was an idea born from a birthday gift she received in June. New skateboard in hand, Kelsey started frequenting the skate park by the Portales Recreation Center and was soon talking with kids there about ways they might improve the existing skate park and other local common areas.

Those musings led to the formation of a group she’s calling, “We The Kids, For The Kids.”

With materials supplied by deputy city clerk Veda Urioste through the New Mexico Clean and Beautiful program, Kelsey and company tackled City Park a couple of weeks ago, cleaning up and painting benches. Last weekend they corralled trash at Rotary Park, and come Saturday, you’ll find them in Morrison Park (the block bordered by Elgin, Fargo, Amazon and Brazos) by 8:30 a.m., trash bags at the ready.

Kelsey has extended an open invitation to anyone who wants to join in. “My hope is to let the kids appreciate what we already have and take ownership,” she said.

Want to know more? Call her a call at 356-9909 or 562-9111.

A community-minded citizen putting ideas into action — hats off to you, Kelsey Prince!

The more Betty Williamson looks around, the more good people she sees. You may reach her at [email protected].