For Immediate Release: Sept. 23, 2011 Contact: DEP Press Office, 850.245.2112, DEPNews@dep.state.fl.us  NATIONAL PUBLIC LANDS DAY RECOGNIZES FLORIDA'S NATURAL RESOURCES ~Statewide events to showcase Florida’s publicly-owned lands and parks~ A bridge at Hillsborough River State Park. Clean-up events, like National Public Lands Day, help keep Florida’s natural lands clean. TALLAHASSEE – The Florida Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) invites Floridians to celebrate the 18th annual National Public Lands Day on Saturday, Sept. 24, 2011, on any of Florida’s more than 9 million acres of public land throughout the state. “We are delighted to take part in National Public Lands Day, which is a perfect opportunity for Floridians and visitors to engage in the preservation of our beautiful state-owned lands,” said DEP Secretary Herschel T. Vinyard Jr. “I encourage Floridians to head to their favorite state park to enjoy the day and even participate in one of many volunteer opportunities. Coordinated by the National Environmental Education Foundation, National Public Lands Day brings together thousands of volunteers to improve and restore the publicly-owned lands that are used for recreation, education, exercise and relaxation. This yearly opportunity for stewardship and service provides an opportunity for community members to volunteer to preserve America’s lands. “It is very fulfilling to give back to the community on a day like National Public Lands Day,” said eco-VolunteerUSA™ Program Director Christine Small. “A sense of community and volunteerism is what we need.” National Public Lands Day volunteers in Florida’s state parks can contribute to the restoration of Florida’s public lands in many ways, including: removing trash and exotic plants from park property, picking up litter by beaches, replanting trails, and volunteering for demos, exhibits and kids activities. In addition, the Florida Park Service will waive state park entrance fees for all volunteers participating in National Public Lands Day.   Florida’s system of public lands includes parks, unique landscapes, forests, wildlife refuges, historic trails, natural streams and wetlands, nature centers, gardens and other landmark areas, which represent irreplaceable national resources. Cleanups taking place at state parks on Saturday, Sept. 24th: •Blue Springs State Park – 9 a.m. to noon Help improve wildlife habitat by removing the trash and nonnative plants from park property.  Join the nation's largest hands-on effort to improve public lands. Registration required; ages 16 and up. •Wakulla Springs State Park - 9 a.m. to noon Join community members to help replant trails. •Jonathan Dickinson State Park  -10 a.m. to noon Family Exotic Plant Removal •Washington Oaks Gardens State Park- 9 a.m. to noon Coastal clean-up •Oleta River State Park - 8:30 a.m. to noon Assist land managers remove exotic plants, clean up the coastline and plant trees.   •Oscar Scherer State Park - 9 a.m. to noon Entertainment & Education Day - volunteers needed for demos, exhibits, kids activities. •Delnor-Wiggins State Park - 8 a.m. to noon Sea-grape planting, seed collection, relocate small cabbage palms •Big Lagoon State Park - 9 a.m. to noon Volunteer at the yearly event and help with trails, coastal and Highway clean-up. •Topsail Hill State Park - 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Restore wetlands, clear invasive vegetation and remove debris. •St. George Island State Park - 8:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. Beach & Bay litter pick-up

About Florida State Parks, Greenways and Trails The nation’s best state parks and trails have joined forces. Now a part of the Department of Environmental Protection’s Florida Park Service, the award-winning Office of Greenways and Trails manages the 110-mile Marjorie Harris Carr Cross Florida Greenway, eight state trails and more. Florida’s award-winning state parks have inspired residents and visitors with recreation opportunities and scenic beauty that helps to strengthen families, educate children, expand local economies and foster community pride. With 160 parks, 700,000 acres, 100 miles of beaches and more than 600 miles of multi-use trails, visit soon and often to enjoy Florida’s natural treasures. For more information visit www.FloridaStateParks.org or www.dep.state.fl.us/gwt/guide/.   About National Public Lands Day National Public Lands Day (NPLD) is the nation's largest, single-day volunteer event for public lands in the United States. NPLD began in 1994 with three sites and 700 volunteers. It proved to be a huge success and NPLD became a yearly tradition, typically held on the last Saturday in September.  Since the first NPLD, the event has grown by leaps and bounds. Last year, 170,000 volunteers worked at over 2,080 sites in every state, the District of Columbia and in many U.S. territories. www.publiclandsday.org Having trouble viewing this email? View it as a Web page.

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