Peoples employees Jon Gildersleeve, left, and Alex Boskovic, spread new turf around playground equipment at Alameda Park Tuesday morning, April 16. Eddie Trizzino/Butler Eagle

BUTLER TWP — The physical labor performed by Peoples Gas employees on Tuesday, April 16, at Alameda Park produced a good bit of sweat, but the opportunity to get out of the office and work outside was worth it for most of the day’s crew.

This is the third year the company was doing outdoor maintenance in observance of Earth Day, but the first year they did it at Alameda Park, Nick Paradise, communications manager for Peoples Gas, said Tuesday during a break from the work.

According to Paradise, there were about 25 employees working Tuesday from different departments at the company.

“It’s part of protecting the environment and helping to provide for the communities we’re in,” he said.

Lance Welliver, director of Butler County Parks and Recreation, said Tuesday that volunteers with Peoples would be spreading safety surfacing at playgrounds, digging up and trimming trees and disposing of waste throughout the day.

The employees wrapped up work around 2:30 p.m.

Ryan Daniels hauls big tree branches cut at Alameda Park Tuesday, April 16, during an Earth Day work day by Peoples. Eddie Trizzino/Butler Eagle

Heather Rhodes smiles as she carries tree branches to be disposed of at Alameda Park Tuesday morning, April 16. Eddie Trizzino/Butler Eagle