The Platteville Community Arboretum recently received a helping hand from UW–Platteville students.

Fourteen members of the Alpha Gamma Rho fraternity worked to cut brush and remove dead trees near walking paths in the arboretum.

The arboretum runs along the Rountree Branch from the UW–Platteville campus to Mound View Park. The arboretum is maintained and managed as a nonprofit organization through a cooperative effort of various individuals, interest groups and academic institutions within the community.

“We do several community service projects throughout the year,” said Tony Weier, a junior majoring in agriculture from Dodgeville who is a member of AGR. “The community will really benefit from the renovations to the trail in the arboretum. The paths are more clear and safe to walk through. Our organization is all about building lifelong friendships and networking with others in the agriculture industry. Being involved with community service helps build those bonds between our members.”

Individuals are also pitching in to help with work at the arboretum. Brian Johnson, a senior majoring in biology from Springfield, Ill., has been volunteering by running a self-propelled brush cutter along the trail this fall. Johnson is also a member of the UW–Platteville Pioneer football team.

“My involvement started when I had the idea to do some environmentally related community service as part of a course requirement,” said Johnson. “I decided to continue helping out with the trail because it is a way for me to give back and learn something new. I have gotten to know a few community members and families through the project and in return, they have taken a big interest in the football program here at UW–Platteville.”