UPDATE: MERIDIAN TOWNSHIP - The Parks and Recreation Department and the Park Commission recently recognized some of their volunteers. The Township Hall Room was filled with people of all ages and some had some time to shine. With refreshments and lots of laughs, it was an event that brought residents together.

Some individuals recognized were the Eagles Scouts, the Lambda Chi Alpha fraternity, and Jay Hanks for his help in the Red Cedar River cleanup over the past ten years.

LuAnn Maisner, Director of Parks and Recreation said, "This is just a great night for us because it gave us the opportunity to thank all the volunteers who have worked all year long and I think its nice for them to see how they fit in to the bigger picture and you can have somebody build a foot bridge to see the complexity of all the volunteer effort and the impact that they have."

The Park Friend of the Year award went to John Grettenberger for his construction of the chapel in the Meridian Historical Village.

"Historically ever little village in Michigan and elsewhere around the country had a church that was the focal point for everything went on in that community and we needed one and we didn't have one," said John.

The chapel is the newest addition to the village and can be reserved for weddings.

ORIGINAL STORY: MERIDIAN TOWNSHIP - The Park Commission recognized their volunteers in a ceremony. Tune in to Meridian Magazine this week to see who won Park Friend of the Year.