For immediate release Contact: Wendy Fox

April 20, 2007 617-626-1453

‘PARK SERVE DAY’ CALLS HUNDREDS OF VOLUNTEERS TO

PARTICIPATE IN CLEAN-UPS ACROSS THE COMMONWEALTH

State officials today announced that May 12 will be Park Serve Day in state parks and forests across the Commonwealth. Hundreds of volunteers already have signed up to participate in more than 40 projects, such as picking up litter along ocean beaches, clearing debris from hiking trails, and planting flowers at picnic areas.

“Parks, beaches, and forests are the jewels of the Commonwealth, and they belong to all of us,” said Governor Deval Patrick, who plans to participate at one of the Park Serve projects. “I am thrilled that so many of our citizens are taking ownership of these treasures and are ready to pitch in and help get them ready for spring.”

At a news conference at Wollaston Beach in Quincy, Energy and Environmental Affairs Secretary Ian Bowles and Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR) Acting Commissioner Priscilla Geigis said more volunteers are welcome and encouraged to help spruce up parks and forests owned by the citizens of the Commonwealth and operated by the state Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR) for their benefit.

Park Serve Day is intended to supplement unprecedented efforts by DCR to improve conditions at these facilities for the coming season. These efforts include improving curb appeal of the parks and hiring contractors to help with mowing, cleaning, and weed control; testing new trash barrel covers at several beaches to prevent garbage spilling and gull scavenging; and developing maintenance schedules for each park, beach, and parkway that will include tasks such as mowing, weeding, picking up litter, cleaning the beaches and restrooms, and inspecting playgrounds.

DCR has also brought in more than 60 seasonal staff members several weeks earlier than usual to help get parks ready for spring, and has begun a street-sweeping program on certain DCR roadways to protect ocean and freshwater beaches from pollutants contained in storm water runoff in those areas.

“The professionals at DCR have an ambitious plan for getting our parks shipshape this spring, and they need our help,” said Secretary of Energy and Environmental Affairs Ian Bowles.

“The Governor and I are hoping that everyone who loves these properties and facilities as much as we do will lend a hand.”

Among the Park Serve projects identified so far are cleaning the shore at Lake Cochituate State Park in Natick, tidying picnic areas and campgrounds at D.A.R. State Forest in Goshen, planting flowers at Herter Park in Brighton, conducting light trail work at Leominster State Forest in Westminster, planting trees and building a compost area at the Middlesex Fells Reservation in Stoneham, painting a bathhouse at Nantasket Beach in Hull, and cleaning the campgrounds and painting park buildings and picnic tables at Pittsfield State Forest in Pittsfield. Volunteers will also be planting thousands of daylilies donated to DCR for parks across the state.

DCR will provide work gloves and equipment needed for the various projects, though participants may want to bring their own work gloves or tools, clearly marked with your name and phone number. Volunteers should not bring power tools, however. Wear sturdy shoes and work clothes, and consider bringing sunscreen and insect repellent. Parking fees will be waived at all DCR facilities where Park Serve projects are taking place. Drinking water and a snack will be supplied, though participants should feel free to bring their own food as well.

“Everyone has a role to play in preserving and enhancing our forests and parks,” said Priscilla Geigis, acting DCR commissioner, “so we welcome you to come out to play your role on May 12.”

To sign up for Park Serve Day, and to see a list of all the projects, go online to mass.gov/parkserve to register and get directions to the park of your choice. The event is a joint project involving the governor’s Public Liaison Office, the Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs, and DCR.

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