For Release: Thursday, May 5, 2022
DEC Region 5 to Celebrate 'I Love My Park Day' Saturday, May 7, with 11 Volunteer Events
The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) Region 5 is seeking volunteers for the 11th annual 'I Love My Park Day' event on Saturday, May 7. I Love My Park Day is a statewide event sponsored by the New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation and the nonprofit organization Parks & Trails New York to enhance parks, historic sites, and public lands by raising awareness and visibility of the State's outdoor recreation assets. Registration is now open (link leaves DEC website) and New Yorkers are encouraged to sign up for cleanup events. This year, DEC Region 5 is hosting 11 opportunities for the public to volunteer:
Essex County
Crown Point State Historic Site, Crown Point
Time: 10 a.m.
Details: Meet outside the museum building located by the main parking. Activities include shoreline cleanup in the morning; campsite cleanup, raking, trash and brush removal, and setting up picnic tables for the camping season in the afternoon; and Leave No TraceTM education and activities. Gloves, garbage bags, rakes, and refreshments will be provided.
Frontier Town Campground and Equestrian Area, North Hudson
Time: 9 a.m.
Details: Meet at the campground entrance booth to build bat and bird houses and plant a pollinator garden.
Meadowbrook Campground, Ray Brook
Time: 9 a.m.
Details: Meet at the campground cabin for debris cleanup, raking, and painting throughout the campground and at the campsites to prepare for the upcoming camping season.
Clinton County
Ausable Point Campground, Peru
Time: 9 a.m.
Details: Meet at the parking lot nearest the beach. Volunteers will be doing general campground maintenance and raking throughout the campground.
Hamilton County
Eighth Lake Campground, Inlet
Time: 10 a.m.
Details: Meet at the campground maintenance garage for campground cleanup and beach cleanup.
Franklin County
Fish Creek Pond Campground, Saranac Lake
Time: 9 a.m.
Details: Meet at the campground entrance booth for debris pickup, raking, and painting throughout the campground.
Warren County
Hearthstone Point Campground, Lake George
Time: 10 a.m.
Details: Meet at the campground entrance booth to help prepare the campground for the season by participating in campsite cleanup, trash and limb pickup, raking, day use area and beach cleanup, and flower bed cleanup.
Lake George Battlefield Park and Day Use Area, Lake George
Time: 10 a.m.
Details: Two projects will be happening at this location.
- Meet at the parking lot near the entrance booth for a cleanup around statues and grounds of the facility.
- Enter Lake George Battlefield Park through the gate/kiosk on the east side of Fort George Road. Proceed down the park road to the sheltered pavilion where parking is available. This is the annual cleanup of the Battlefield Park historic areas. After meeting at the pavilion, volunteers will be able to select spots within the park where they will work.
Luzerne Campground, Lake Luzerne
Time: 10 a.m.
Details: Meet at the campground entrance booth for campsite cleanup, raking, tree planting, trash and brush removal, and setting up picnic tables for the camping season.
Fulton County
Northampton Beach Campground, Mayfield
Time: 9 a.m.
Details: Meet at the campground entrance booth for brush and trash cleanup throughout the campground.
Volunteers should sign up ahead of time at Parks & Trails New York I Love My Park Day website (link leaves DEC website). Volunteers should dress for the weather and wear proper footwear/work boots, and long pants. Sunscreen and insect repellant are recommended. A bagged lunch and/or snacks and water are appropriate. Please email info.R5@dec.ny.gov for more information if needed.
