The eighth annual I Love My Park Day takes place on Saturday, May 4 and promises to be the biggest to date. More than 140 state parks, historic sites and public lands will host hosting volunteer events, including beach cleanups, trail restoration, tree and flower plantings, beautification projects and more. Last year over 8,000 volunteers participated in more than 250 I Love My Park Day projects. “I Love My Park Day is a great opportunity to give back to our parks and historic sites so that others can continue to enjoy our state’s amazing natural treasures,” governor Andrew Cuomo said. “I encourage New Yorkers to sign up and volunteer at a participating park or historic site in their area to help us protect and preserve our incredible parks system for generations to come.” Visit https://www.ptny.org/events/i-love-my-park-day/find-event to locate a park in which you can volunteer.
As an example, Minnewaska State Park Preserve observes I Love My Park Day with a cleanup and beautification event from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., beginning at the Sam’s Point Area. Minnewaska relies on volunteers to maintain and improve the approximately 40 miles of footpaths that traverse its wild forests. Last year, across the Minnewaska State Park Preserve, 49 participants volunteered 319 hours of time, working on three distinct projects. At Minnewaska, a team of volunteers rebuilt a bog bridge and clipped back overgrown vegetation on the Jenny Lane Footpath. At Sam’s Point, a team of volunteers worked to build bog bridges on the Verkeerderkill Falls Footpath, and another team helped improve the native pollinator garden.
There are three improvement projects to choose from, all of which will greatly benefit the Park Preserve. Two projects will take place at the Sam’s Point Area of Minnewaska State Park Preserve and one will take place on the Rainbow Falls Footpath within the Minnewaska State Park Preserve. Volunteers will work alongside Park Preserve staff and/or New York/New Jersey Trail Conference volunteers on each project. For registration and complete information, visit www.ptny.org.
Join the family! 
