Students from Central Kitsap High School took a morning off from the books and spent the first part of their day Thursday, Earth Day, helping lay nearly 600 feet of gravel for a pedestrian walkway at Gateway Park in Silverdale.

Some students helped plant trees and clear brush and were joined by members of the Navy Seabees, the Clear Creek Task Force and the Silverdale Dog Park Stewardship Group.

The park will eventually become the Silverdale Dog Park, and will include a “dog agility” area, mulch pit and an expanded parking lot by the time it is scheduled to open July 4, said Mike McCown, stewardship vice president.

Student Jessie Meier said she was happy to be able get out of the classroom and work outside with her friends.

She said she didn’t know the park even existed until recently and she plans on running with her dog, Champ, at the park when it’s finished.