Driving down Market Street recently we spied a soggy crew working in the rain at Kirkland’s Heritage Park, a group obviously not of regular Kirkland Parks and Recreation Department employees.

Since volunteerism is a core value of Patch, being more than ever necessary in this era of ever-declining federal, state, county and municipal budgets, we pulled over to find out who they might be.

Turns out they were employees of Kirkland’s Heathman Hotel, along with a few guests, working under the direction of Kirkland Parks employee Rose Wessels.

The hotel has adopted Heritage Park, the grassy, landscaped expanse that once hosted Kirkland Junior High, and once a month its employees volunteer their time to do landscaping and other maintenance work.

“We started in January of last year, so this is our anniversary,” said Les Utley, Heathman general manager.

Hotel guests who also volunteer can earn a free night’s stay, he added.

The City of Kirkland and its residents have a long tradition of public service. But with the city having just implemented its second biennium of service reductions due to budget issues, that might be more important now than ever.

“Volunteers have always been vital to the city, but particularly now with our resources stretched thin," said Julie Huffman, the city’s volunteer coordinator. "We’re really open to partnerships with local businesses, churches and colleges.”

Without such efforts, a lot of work around the city would not get done. Volunteers help maintain not only parks, but also traffic circles and storm drains. Volunteers help with stream restoration, emergency radio services, and domestic abuse and crisis intervention efforts.

“We really depend on volunteers to completely take over maintenance of many things,” said Huffman. “I’m always amazed that we literally have hundreds of people who are out even in the pouring rain some Saturday mornings, when most of us are at home still in bed or drinking coffee. They’re out working, pulling blackberry bushes, and having fun.

“They’re able to create major change in one day. For a lot of people, that’s really fulfilling.”

Our hats are certainly off to the Heathman employees, and all other Kirkland volunteers.

You can find out more on the city’s web pages: www.ci.kirkland.wa.us/depart/CMO/Volunteering/Opportunities.htm.