Employees at Paso Robles-based IQMS met at Downtown City Park last Saturday to clean up trash for the first time after the business chose to adopt the park through the city of Paso Robles\\\' Adopt-A-Park program. Above, Saturday\\\'s Adopt-a-Park volunteers from IQMS. From left, Dave Conrad, Michelle Conrad, Nicolette Jolicoeur, Christina Jolicoeur, Daniele Fresca, John Asi, Beth Fagundes, Susan Masters, Liz Alflen. Front row, Marcie and Rebecca Asi. Contributed photo.

Josh Petray

Staff Writer

Courtesy of one local business, Downtown City Park just got a little bit tidier.

Paso Robles-based software design and development company IQMS recently spent its first day helping beautify the park, a centerpiece of downtown Paso Robles, by picking up trash and making notes of necessary repairs as part of the city of Paso Robles Adopt-A-Park program last Saturday, Nov. 14.

A handful of IQMS volunteers met at the Carnegie Library around 10 a.m., slipped on some rubber gloves and took to the task.

\\\"We are always looking for ways to help out the community,\\\" said Dianele Fresca, director of marketing for IQMS.

According to Fresca, IQMS received a notice from the Paso Robles Chamber of Commerce about the Adopt-A-Park program, which helped spark the company\\\'s interest in participating. When the search was on for the appropriate park, IQMS employees, many of whom live in Paso Robles and its surrounding areas, decided on a location that would have an impact. IQMS decided on Downtown City Park. The IQMS corporate office is located in Paso Robles, and a majority of its employees located in Paso Robles.

\\\"There wasn\\\'t really a park in the area of where our corporate office is, so that wasn\\\'t really an option for us,\\\" Fresca said. \\\"Our employees live all over the place, and we all use Downtown City Park, so it was suggested that we pick that one.\\\"

A crew of an estimated five to six volunteers, some that will rotate and others that will not, will clean the park at a minimum twice monthly, picking up trash and making notes of any needed repairs, according to Fresca.

That doesn\\\'t necessarily mean that the efforts to beatify the park will necessarily stop with trash pickup.

According to Fresca, IQMS officials have also notified the city that if there were a need due to budget shortfalls, the company would be interested in pursuing beautification possibilities like tree plantings in the parks.

Fresca said the Adopt-A-Park program is yet another cause that IQMS is proud to support.

\\\"IQMS was very excited to take on this opportunity and further expand our dedication to this community,\\\" she said. \\\"The entire staff welcomed the chance to become involved when the opportunity presented itself and we hope it will encourage other companies or organizations to volunteer.\\\"

According to Paso Robles Library & Recreation Services Director Annie Robb, in July of 2009 when the City Council initiated goal setting, one of the things that they wanted to do was engage the community a little bit more by having people help out volunteer at parks especially places were park maintenance staff is unable.

\\\"[Adopt-A-Park] is a wonderful service,\\\" Robb said. \\\"we\\\'re really relying on the community in some areas where we\\\'re just having a hard time getting people assigned.\\\"

Other programs that IQMS supports include the California Mid-State Fair, Skills USA, supporting the Annual Fourth of July Fireworks that was in danger of cancellation, North County YMCA and more. The company has been established at its headquarters, located off Wisteria Lane, for roughly four years. It was formerly located off and before that off Aerotech Way with a small suite off Vendels Circle. The company has an estimated 100 employees worldwide.



About Adopt-A-Park

According to a media release, any community-based group willing to make an ongoing volunteer commitment now and into the next year is needed. Civic associations, companies, schools, neighborhoods, churches, military, scout or other community groups are needed to clean up and control litter. For more information contact Vicky Jeffcoach, city of Paso Robles recreation coordinator at 237-3989.



For the complete article see the 11-20-2009 issue.

Click here to purchase an electronic version of the 11-20-2009 paper.

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