NATIONAL PUBLIC LANDS DAY SEPT. 24

Sept. 15, 2011
Event helps state, local parks and public lands
PRATT — Everyone who has ever wanted to spend high-quality time working outdoors while helping a park or public land should mark their calendars for Saturday, Sept. 24. Governor Sam Brownback has declared that day National Public Lands Day (NPLD) in Kansas and calls upon residents to recognize and participate in this special observance by volunteering at a state, county, or city park or other public land.

NPLD is the nation’s largest hands-on volunteer effort to improve and enhance the public lands Americans enjoy, and this year, more than 170,000 volunteers are expected to help plant trees, remove trash, and build trails at public lands across the nation. Last year, volunteers and community partners contributed an estimated $15 million in improvements to more than 2,000 public land sites on federal, state, and municipal lands in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, and U.S. territories.

To find a park or public land in Kansas that is hosting a volunteer event, visit the NPLD website at www.publiclandsday.org, click “Find a Site,” and then click Kansas on the U.S. map. As of early September, four Kansas sites had registered, including Fall River State Park, Hillsdale Reservoir and State Park, Wyandotte County Lake Park, and the Hiawatha Outdoor Wildlife Learning Site. Information is given for each site, such as activities planned and contact information.

Fall River State Park is looking for volunteers to help with its Fall River Rendezvous, a living history event that will interpret the times of the Louisiana Purchase. Scouts, 4-H groups, and other volunteers are needed to help prepare for the event, clean up afterwards, and provide concessions. At Hillsdale Reservoir and State Park, volunteers can help clean up the lake.
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