It looks like a simple sidewalk, but it comes with the support of a multitude of community members who helped build the concrete pathway leading from the Junction City Elementary School to the Junction City Park, a path travelled by students regularly.

The work was done with the help of the Lowe’s Heroes program, which encourages Lowe’s employees to volunteer their time and adopt a local project at a non-profit, school or other community location.

“They were so generous with their time and money. It’s a huge blessing for us,” said Rachalle Brandt, president of the Junction City Parent Association.

Before this, Brandt said, the students would make the trek to and from the park by crossing a dirt path, which turned into a mud pit on rainy days.

Brandt met Terry Hamblin with Lowe’s in Danville during a Lowe’s Build and Grow event she attended with her sons. They began talking about the Lowe’s Heroes program.

Hamblin encouraged Brandt to fill out a request and share the things the school was in need of, such as a sidewalk.

When volunteers came to the school to inspect it, the sidewalk project grew to include painting of the basketball court, painting of the swing set, a set of new benches in the school’s shelter, mulch around the school, new backboards on the basketball goals and more.

Volunteers and those who helped with all the projects include Clint Curtis with Curtis Homes; Randal Byrd and Curt Davis; Lowe’s employees Clovet Shelton, Jason Grainger, Jessie Logue, Amy Rowland, Laura Southerland, Billy Gooden, Brian Crawford, Derrick Beldon, Terri Hamblin, Mike Wren and John Master; and Junction City Elementary staff and PTA members.

The projects were completed over the course of several weeks.

“It was a great combination of community, PTA members, and Junction City staff,” Brandt said.

The goal of the Junction City Parent Teacher Association this year has been “outdoor learning” and there are a few more small projects the parent teacher association plans to tackle on its own, she said.

Follow Kendra Peek on Twitter, @knpeek.