Over the weekend, a group of CCIP (www.theccip.com) exchange visitors volunteered their time to clean and maintain Cunningham Park, one of the largest parks in Queens. New York City’s extensive park system includes over 30,000 acres of land, so volunteers are integral for maintaining the appearance of the vast areas.

At 358 acres, Cunningham Park is frequented by locals and tourists every day and is one of the most popular sites in all of Queens. The park includes paths for running and biking, various sports fields, playgrounds, and ample space for lounging about and enjoying the sun.

The volunteering activity was coordinated by Owen Qi and Shannon Tsui, both students at the Chinese University of Hong Kong.

Owen, who is studying law, explained why this activity was such a unique opportunity. “We’ve been told how important volunteerism is to American culture. Volunteering to clean up the park felt like a way to repay this city that has been so welcoming.”

In addition to their internships, the exchange visitors participate in a variety of activities designed to help them appreciate American culture better. While volunteering at Cunningham Park, they met with locals and learned more about the city and its parks.

“You can tell that people here take great pride in their parks,” Shannon explained. “New York City is sometimes described as a concrete jungle, but there are actually many green places in the city and locals want them to stay beautiful. They’re doing a great job with Cunningham Park.”