REMINDER: 8th Annual ‘I Love My Park Day’ on May 4: Volunteer opportunities available to help beautify local parks, trails

Elmira, N.Y., April 10—State Senator Tom O’Mara (R,C,I-Big Flats) today reminded area residents that the online volunteer registration process is underway for the 8th Annual “I Love My Park Day” on Saturday, May 4, 2019 at state parks and historic sites across New York, including events at several regional sites.

The statewide event, sponsored by Parks & Trails New York (PTNY) in partnership with the New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation (OPRHP) and local groups, encourages volunteer efforts to enhance New York’s parks and historic sites and promote the entire park system.

“New York can boast of one of America’s outstanding systems of state parks, including a network of historic sites, parks and trails throughout the Finger Lakes and Southern Tier regions that is second to none,” said O’Mara, a member of the Senate Environmental Conservation Committee.  “I can’t say enough about this effort to beautify and promote these attractions.  I hope it’s incredibly successful once again this year.”

In 2018, over 8,000 volunteers took part in more than 250 cleanup, improvement and beautification projects at nearly 140 state parks and historic sites, contributing more than 12,000 hours of volunteer service.  The annual event has tripled in size since the inaugural event in 2012.     

This year, volunteers from every region of New York will once again participate in efforts to beautify, improve and restore state parks, trails and historic sites on Saturday, May 4.

O’Mara noted that local “I Love My Park Day” events have been scheduled at the Catharine Valley Trail-Watkins Glen State Park, Ithaca Dog Park adjacent to the Allan H. Treman Marine State Park, Robert H. Treman State Park, Stony Brook State Park, and Two Rivers State Park Recreation Area, among others.

Additional information, including an online registration process, is available on the Parks & Trails New York website HERE.