14-073 Corps seeks National Public Lands Day volunteers to plant trees

Published Sept. 19, 2014
WALLA WALLA, Wash. – Volunteers can join forces with U.S. Army Corps of Engineers park rangers at Mill Creek Dam and Bennington Lake located in Walla Walla, Wash., as they honor National Public Lands Day (NPLD) on Saturday, Sept. 27, from 8 a.m. to noon.

Volunteers will help plant trees in Rooks Park, a recreation area which attracts thousands of visitors each year. Tools and gloves will be provided, but volunteers should wear sturdy shoes and be prepared to work outside. Volunteers should meet near the Rooks Park restroom at 8 a.m. to start work. All work should be done by noon. Groups and individuals planning to help should register by contacting Park Ranger Chris Alford by phone at (509) 527-7165, by email at millcreek@usace.army.mil or via Facebook at www.facebook.com/millcreekdam.

Directions to this NPLD event: from Hwy. 12 at the east end of Walla Walla, exit south onto Tausick Way, at the stop light, turn east onto Mill Creek Road and follow it 1 mile to Rooks Park Road on the right.

National Public Lands Day is the nation’s largest, single-day volunteer event to benefit public lands. Officially the last Saturday of September, organizers anticipate tens of thousands of Americans of all ages will participate nationwide, volunteering their time and effort to help restore the beauty and vitality of our public lands.

Whether you join a formal public lands event or just grab a trash bag to help pick up litter as you walk the trails in a nature area or park, your efforts help preserve the beauty of public lands for everyone to enjoy. Anyone who enjoys fun in the great outdoors is encouraged to lend a helping hand to America’s lands.

National Public Lands Day began in 1994 with three federal agencies and 700 volunteers. Last year, 175,000 volunteers worked in more than 2,237 locations across the nation. Now, seven federal agencies, as well as nonprofit organizations and state, regional and local governments participate in the annual day of caring for public lands. For more information about National Public Lands Day, visit their website at www.publiclandsday.org.
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Contact
Public Affairs Office
509-527-7020
cenww-pa@usace.army.mil

Release no. 14-073