If you owned the property commonly referred to as the former Golf and Gardens on Augusta's downtown riverfront, it's likely you'd be in trouble with the city.

You'd probably be getting warnings and letters and possibly fines for the unsightly property overgrown with vegetation.

It has become a blighted area.

It's time something was done.

Thankfully, a group of civic-minded volunteers known as Growing Augusta the GreenWay has volunteered to cut the grass and weeds and other vegetation free of charge, using private equipment, beginning at 8:15 a.m. Saturday, June 6.

All they need is permission to enter the gated property.

It may take the proverbial act of Congress to even get that done. While the state attorney general's office seems to be clearing the way from the state's standpoint, the cleanup group also needs permission from the Georgia Golf Hall of Fame -- the land is still controlled by the hall, which has essentially abandoned it due to financial troubles. But its board doesn't meet again until June 25.

By then, the eyesore will be even more overgrown -- and will have made that many more eyes sore.

The property's owners have been an extremely poor neighbor in this instance -- the kind of negligent neighbor you turn in to the city for code violations.

The city of Augusta had to tussle for nearly half a year to get clearance to maintain the property for a time last year, before even the city couldn't afford it.

The least that folks can do now is ease the way for volunteers to get in and do the work. For free.

Growing Augusta's leader, Anthony Esposito, has assured all concerned that volunteers will sign liability wavers, so risk shouldn't be a problem.

He's also politely asked the Golf Hall of Fame board to meet by phone in order to approve the volunteer work. We hope they do.

A sincere attempt to help should never be turned down -- especially when it's both needed and free of charge.

We realize the Golf Hall of Fame had much of its finances disappear when the state couldn't afford to invest in the facility anymore. But in allowing the property to become blighted, the Golf Hall of Fame has become "that neighbor."

It should welcome some help with open arms.