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As Prospect Park gets ready to kick-off its spring season April 4th, new benches are being put installed in the dugouts of the ball fields, and a new crop of volunteers is out painting them.

"It's great. I like to be out," said volunteer Judy Ong. "It gives me a reason to get out of the house."

Ong recently left her office job and is re-inventing herself. She wants to get into horticulture and thought volunteering at the park is a start.

"I was in an office for 12 hours a day and it's so nice to be outside and in the sun, not so much today, but I wanted to work outside and work in the dirt," she said.

Thursday was the first volunteer outing this year. Last year, volunteers set a record of more than 8,000 hours sprucing up the park. And officials say they expect to draw even more this year as people are unemployed, freelancing, or have more flexible schedules.

Claudia Viera is an artist and a first-time volunteer.

"It's fun. I grew up on a farm. I miss it and it's a healthy way to keep moving and see to it that the park's clean," Viera said.

Prospect Park officials say they'll need volunteers now more than ever with budget cutbacks and fewer corporations sponsoring cleanup efforts. They revamped their volunteer program, giving it a new name, Volunteer Corps, and a new logo.

"What we're doing is surveys," explained Regina Hartfield, senior vice president of programs and outreach for the Parks Department. "We've been talking with our volunteers to find out what is working, what they would like to see, what they would like to do, and incorporating that in this whole campaign."

This year, volunteers will also be used as greeters at a couple of the park's main entrances, including Grand Army Plaza. They'll give directions and answer questions.

"We're having volunteers give out rule cards so they know how to barbeque. They know how to bike and use the park safely," said Hartfield.

Three weekly volunteer groups take place regularly. In addition, there are the park's special events. Those who volunteered here in the past, say they're hooked.

"My favorite stuff is like the mulching we plant at the end of the season," said a volunteer. "We put the tulip bulbs in. So I love putting them in and you come out in the spring and it's your work. It's given me a real sense of ownership of the park."

"You work hard and, at the end of the day, you had a day in the park," said another.

Those interested in volunteering can call (718) 965-8960 or send an email to volunteers@prospectpark.org.