DEC Marks I Love My Park Day with Five Local Options for Volunteers

Volunteer Events Taking Place in St. Lawrence, Herkimer, Oneida, and Jefferson Counties

New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) Region 6 is seeking volunteers for the eighth annual I Love My Park Day being held on Saturday, May 4, 2019. I Love My Park Day is a statewide event sponsored by the New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation and Parks & Trails New York to enhance parks, historic sites, and public lands by raising awareness and visibility of the state's outdoor recreation assets and their needs. Governor Andrew M. Cuomo recently announced that registration is now open and encouraged New Yorkers to sign up for cleanup events happening statewide.

This year, DEC Region 6 is hosting five opportunities for the public to volunteer:

Jefferson County
Where: Lakeview Wildlife Management Area
What: Beach cleanup/ routine maintenance
Who: All ages
Time: 9 a.m. - 12 p.m.
What to bring: work gloves
Meeting location: Meet at main Southwick Beach State Park parking lot.
Directions are found on the Southwick Beach State Park page (leaves DEC website).

Where: Winona State Forest
What: Trail work maintenance
Who: All ages
Time: 9 a.m. - 2 p.m.
What to bring: work gloves
Meeting location: Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) camp parking lot, Route 90.

Directions: To get to this forest, from Interstate 81, take Mannsville exit 39, then take county route 90 east through Mannsville. About 2.75 miles out of Mannsville, county route 90 meets Dixon Road and turns to the right. This route bears left at the intersection with Wart Road and then right at Brown Road. The historical CCC camp is another mile down the road. The CCC parking is for access from the north at the junction of Bargy Road and Co. Route 90. Bargy Parking is at the junction of Bargy Road and Co. Rt. 13. Wart Road parking is at the junction of Center Road and Wart Road.

Herkimer County
Where: Nicks Lake Campground
What: campsite cleanup; picnic table replacement.
Who: All ages
Time: 9 a.m. - 2 p.m.
What to bring: Work gloves; yard tools.
Meeting location: Meet at garage area, 278 Bisby Road, Old Forge, NY 13420.

Directions: From NYS Thruway, Exit 31 at Utica, Route 12 North to Alder Creek, Rte. 28 to Old Forge. Turn right at the Post Office and follow the Nicks Lake Campground signs 1.5 miles to the campground entrance.
From Watertown, take Rte. 12 South to Alder Creek, follow above directions. From Blue Mountain Lake take Rte. 28 to Old Forge, turn left at the Post Office and follow the Nicks Lake Campground signs.

Oneida County
Where: Rome Sand Plains Unique Area
What: Trail work and clean up.
Who: All ages
Time: 9:30 a.m. - 1 p.m.
What to bring: Work gloves; yard tools.
Meeting location: Volunteers will meet just east of the Wood Creek Trailhead, on Hogsback Road, in the city of Rome.

Directions: From the City of Rome, take State Route 49/46 West (Rome-Taberg Road), and then left on State Route 49 (Rome-New London Road) when the two split. Stay on State Route 49 for approximately 2.3 miles and take a Right onto Oswego Road (a small brown sign points Right towards the Rome Sand Plains). Proceed down Oswego Road for 0.8 miles and take a left onto Hogsback Road. The event will be taking place 1.4 miles down Hogsback Road. Please park on the North shoulder of Hogsback Road, or as directed.

St. Lawrence County
Where: Cranberry Lake Campground
What: Planting trees, leaf raking, campsite cleanup; picnic table replacement.
Who: All ages
Time: 9 a.m. - 2 p.m.
What to bring: Work gloves
Meeting location: Entrance to campgrounds.

Directions to Cranberry Lake Campground: From the West: I-81 take Exit 45 (Route 3) at Watertown. Take Route 3 to Cranberry Lake Village. Turn right on Lone Pine Road, campground is 1 mile south. From the North: Take Route 56 south from Potsdam. At intersection with Route 3 turn right (west) and follow Route 3 to Cranberry Lake Village. Turn left onto Lone Pine Road, campground is 1 mile south. From the South: People west of Amsterdam use Route 28. Coming from Utica take Route 12 to Route 28. West of Utica take Route 81. Take Route 3 to Cranberry Lake Village, turn left on Lone Pine Road, campground is 1 mile south.

Volunteers should sign-up ahead of time (leaves DEC website) at the Parks and Trails New York website. Volunteers should dress for the weather and wear proper footwear/work boots, and long pants. Sunscreen and insect repellant are recommended. A bagged lunch and/or snacks and water is appropriate. Please email information.R6@dec.ny.gov for more information if needed.

http://www.dec.ny.gov/press/77537.html