Chicago Hosts National Public Lands Day Events

More than a Dozen Chicago-Area Sites Host Clean-Up Events on Saturday, September 24, Part of National Effort

Chicago – On Saturday, September 24, more than 170,000 volunteers, including volunteers at more than a dozen Chicago-area sites, are expected to visit their favorite parks, beaches, wildlife preserves, or forests and chip in to help improve these treasured places. They’ll be taking part in National Public Lands Day (NPLD), the largest, single-day volunteer effort for public lands in the United States.

The Chicago Wilderness Corporate, Skinner Park Advisory Council and Lincoln Park Conservancy are among the organizations coordinating NPLD events in and around Chicago. For example, volunteers will be:

• collecting native seeds at Washington Park, Chicago Park District;
• planting trees and flowers and picking up trash at the Skinner Park and Loomis St. Gardens; 
• removing invasive plants and constructing fences at the Dunning Read Conservation Area, Chicago Park District; and 
• removing invasive species from native prairie/woodlands at the North Pond Nature Sanctuary.

WHAT:     National Public Lands Day – Chicago Events

WHEN:    Saturday, September 24, 2011, 9am

WHERE:  More than a dozen locations. Search by zip code for complete list: http://www.publiclandsday.org/npld-sites

CONTACT:   Amber Taylor, 703-201-4893, amber@sambertaylor.com 

This year marks the 18th annual National Public Lands Day, an event that brings together thousands of volunteers from coast to coast to improve and restore the lands and facilities that Americans use for recreation, education, exercise and relaxation. NPLD has provided more than $15 million in contributed services by volunteers annually to public lands.

As part of this celebration of public lands, NPLD is also supporting the first lady's Let’s Move Outside initiative as it engages families and youth to get outside and be active through hands-on fun activities.

Toyota Motor Sales, USA, Inc. is the event’s national corporate sponsor for the 13th consecutive year. Northrop Grumman has joined as a contributing sponsor again for the 3rd year. The National Environmental Education Foundation (www.neefusa.org) coordinates National Public Lands Day.

Eight federal agencies will participate along with more than 250 state, county, and city partners and a host of nonprofit groups, including the Boy Scouts of America, The Girl Scouts of the USA, Student Conservation Association and The Corps Network.

More information can be found at www.publiclandsday.org.

Chicago Media Advisory