LYNN – The finishing touches of a neighborhood cleanup will take place at Ames Park on Strawberry Avenue Friday with the hope the work will spur city officials to restore basketball hoops taken down earlier this year at the park.Antonio Gutierrez of Essex County Community Organization (ECCO) said a handful of neighborhood kids would be on hand from noon to 5 p.m. to finish painting a mural on the basketball court, erase graffiti markings and tie up any other loose ends.”This time it will be a much smaller event than last Thursday when we had 70 people show up,” he said. “It was wild?really a sight to behold with the little kids helping out.”Gutierrez said the kids also plan to knock on a few doors adjacent to the park to solicit community support for their cause and to gain input on any concerns neighbors have about the park.Once concerns are aired and support is garnered, Gutierrez said he plans to arrange a meeting with Ward 5 City Councilor Paula Mackin to get her opinion on the situation.”Neighbor to Neighbor is going to sit down with the kids first and talk to them about ways to approach the abutters, and then they’re going to go with them to knock on doors,” he said. “We’re hoping to get everyone moving in the same direction.”So far, however, Gutierrez said he has not received a definitive answer from the Lynn Police Department regarding their decision to replace basketball hoops at the park.After city officials removed the hoops on a request from the police department several months ago, area kids have fought the decision with gusto to regain their recreational spot.Labeled an area of gang activity, city officials are still questioning the possibility of replacing the hoops in fear of problems cropping up again.Gutierrez said the indecisiveness of police has not affected the kids’ spirit, as they are working hard to achieve their goal.”This is just the beginning, and once this one (Ames Park) is done, we’ll focus on Henry Avenue Park,” he said. “We just want to show people the positive things that are happening and that not all kids are bad. Some are just misguided.”For more information about Friday’s cleanup, contact Gutierrez at 617-792-3867.