Renewing the playground equipment, restoring the benches and grills, and refreshing the plants was how members of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Inc. and city and county officials spent Saturday morning.

The Mu Xi Omega Chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority hosted the local AKA 1908 Playground Mobilization Community Impact Day at Ken Karyl Playground from 8 to 10 a.m.

“We are a service organization that tries to help the community,” chapter president Anitra Nichols said.

Nichols said the day is an initiative set in place by the sorority’s international president.

“She wants to get out in the community and cleanup local playgrounds,” Nichols said. “It’s one of our service projects.”

Old paint was scraped off the playground equipment to make way for a new layer of paint. Benches and grills were given a fresh spray paint job and mulch and plants were added to the grounds.

AKA chapters all over the world observed the impact day by regenerating and refurbishing parks and playgrounds in their community so children have a safe and inviting place to play.

“Every AKA chapter is working in their community to further their platform,” programs chair and first vice president Trena Warren said.

AKA has several Community Impact Days throughout the year, Warren said, like in February, when the traditionally pink and green sorority goes red for the American Heart Association. The next impact day will be Saturday, June 18, when the sorority will mark the longest day by bringing attention and recognition to Alzheimer’s at Vicksburg Mall.

“There will be activities that will help bring awareness to Alzheimer’s and research as well as give support to caregivers,” Warren said.

Mayor George Flaggs Jr., North Ward Alderman Michael Mayfield and District 3 Supervisor Charles Selmon pitched in at the playground Saturday to help the ladies in their revitalization efforts.

Ken Karyl Playground was chosen this year by committee chairs Pam Freeman and Pam Williams who drove around the community looking at different parks to make their decision, Nichols said. Last year, the group worked at the Fuzzy Johnson Memorial Park on Mission 66, and Warren said time would tell which playground the club would work to update next May.