Motown Mowdown runs through Sunday morning

Volunteers cutting lawns of overgrown parks in Detroit

DETROIT – The humming sound of progress can be heard from lawn mowers blazing through Motown this weekend.

The Detroit Mower Gang is hosting this mow-a-thon in the city. Tom Nardone is the gang's leader.

"Every time we mow, people come out and they are really happy to see us. Kids come out and play. It is really nice," said Nardone.

For 24 hours straight dozens of volunteers with their own lawnmowers, weed whackers and gasoline cans are making cuts across the city at neglected parks.

"We mainly like to ride our tractors," said Timothy Bailey from Livonia. "This is something that we are unable to do at our small lots in the suburbs and out here we got a big lot and at the end of the day we got a clean park."

Watch: Volunteers mowing for 24 hours straight to cleanup parks

The first stop for the gang, O'Shea Park on the Westside of the city. The grass is overgrown and it's not the only park in the city that's in bad condition.

This is the gang's first event of this kind, but for the last few years they have been giving abandoned playgrounds of Detroit a much needed makeover for the children.

"There are a lot of parks in Detroit and it is understandable that they had to let a couple go for a little while. I like the fact that we can really make a difference," said Nardone.

Tom Nardone leader of the The Detroit Mower Gang

~Tom Nardone leader of the The Detroit Mower Gang~

The mow-a-thon started at 10 a.m. Saturday and will go through Sunday morning. The mowers plan on spending the night cutting away in the city.

The person who mows the longest will get to take home the Motown Mowdown Grand Championship Belt, and of course all will take home a sense of accomplishment and community pride.

For more information on the group and their mission visit mowergang.com