Standing atop the new wooden bridge installed at Spring Lake Park, Lois Guyon noted how much the park's appearance has changed since last spring.

"There was so much to be done," Guyon said. "When we look at what we've gotten accomplished, it's amazing. The steps to the falls are in. The bridge is done. The parking lot is coming along. The park is clean. The trails are clean and marked."

Spring Lake Project volunteers Guyon and Karl Fennick spoke during a brief ceremony Thursday dedicating the bridge linking the parking lot and the park's falls area. It took two to three weeks to build the bridge, which was donated in memory of Pat O'Kraski, the late wife of Spring Lake Project Chairman Jerry O'Kraski.

Standing near the park's falls after the ceremony, O'Kraski told The Times about how he and his wife often visited Spring Lake together. Pat O'Kraski was a teacher at Oakland Park School for three decades and would bring students to the park so they could learn to appreciate nature.

"Kids can learn so much here," O'Kraski said. "They can identify the trails, the birds and the animals we have here. It's just another reason why it's a good idea to keep it as a nature area."

The Streator City Council flirted in summer 2006 with the idea of selling the 37.8-acre Spring Lake property, but ultimately did not part with the land after the city attorney advised the land could not be sold unless it remained usable for public recreation. The attempted sale resulted in a public outcry calling for the city to maintain the recreational property, and a corps of volunteers formed Spring Lake Project to spruce up and police the park.

The group's impact is apparent throughout the park. Since April, about 200 volunteers have chipped in by cutting back brush off the trails, making signs to mark trails, cleaning and disposing of trash and building the wooden bridge. Some volunteers also have served as the Spring Lake Park Patrol, politely asking visitors not to bring alcohol or all-terrain vehicles into the park or act unruly in any way.

"One of the things on this project we've found out is how generous the people and businesses of Streator are," said Fennick, noting many materials were donated by local companies. "We haven't had to solicit money. We've had people come to us saying they wanted to make a donation."

Monetary donations can be made through the Spring Lake Project fund at both locations of Streator Onized Credit Union.

O'Kraski said the group is operating under a three-year plan to improve the entire park, including areas currently hard to access. More trails and two more foot bridges will be added, as will a handicapped-accessible deck to serve as a scenic overlook at the falls area, he said.

Patricia Lamagno, a Spring Lake Park Patrol volunteer, has no doubt the group will accomplish its goals.

"I think it just takes time and dedication and getting the right group of people together," Lamagno said. "With this group, there's no failure. They keep trying, and I'm thrilled to death with the job they're doing."