AmeriCorps groups volunteer at Wildcat Glades - KOAM TV 7

AmeriCorps crews get their hands dirty at a Joplin park during a day of service.

Volunteers removed invasive plants from the Wildcat Glades Center on Sunday, preventing them from spreading and killing off surrounding plant life.

AmeriCorps members say they chose to offer their service at the park because it's important to limit things that reduce bio diversity and allow beneficial types of plants and wildlife to flourish.

"They need to plant something so that it gets in the ground and grows really fast and covers the most ground, but that's one of the reasons why these invasive species and plants are bad because they are covering the ground and not giving a chance to native species who are more adapt and native to this ecosystem, to grow," says AmeriCorps member Amanda Guenther.

The crew has been performing various days of service in Joplin since May 1.  They will be leaving town this week.