Senator Andrew Lanza today announced that online registration is now open for the fourth annual I Love My Park Day, to be held on May 2 at state parks and historic sites across New York. Since its launch in 2012, the number of parks involved in I Love My Park Day has more than doubled, with the number of volunteers taking part tripling. Event details can be found at www.nysparks.com.

"For all New Yorkers who enjoy our state's beautiful parks and historic sites throughout the year, I extend the invitation to volunteer on May 2 and help ensure these sites remain some of the best in the nation," Senator Lanza said. "These parks offer the best of New York's outdoor recreational opportunities, attract tourists who support local economies and bring people together. Participating in 'I Love My Park Day' is a great way to give back to these special places, and I encourage everyone to come and lend a hand."

Sponsored jointly by the New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation and Parks & Trails New York, I Love My Park Day is a statewide event that improves and enhances New York’s parks and historic sites, bringing increased visibility to the entire park system. Volunteers will celebrate New York’s park system by cleaning up winter damage and other debris on park lands and beaches, planting trees and gardens, restoring trails and wildlife habitat, removing invasive species, and working on various site improvement projects. Nearly 90 parks and historic sites will participate, from Montauk Point to Niagara Falls.

In 2014, more than 6,000 volunteers took part in over 120 cleanup, improvement and beautification projects at more than 80 state parks and historic sites, contributing 12,000 hours of volunteer service. For photos from previous years, see here, here, here and here.

The New York State Commission on Volunteer and Community Service is joining the effort again this year to help recruit volunteers, promote the initiative and provide support to projects across the state.


Registration for I Love My Park Day can be found by visiting: http://www.ptny.org/ilovemypark/index.shtml.