Department of Parks
Kentucky State Parks Taking Part In National Public Lands Day Sept. 29

FRANKFORT, Ky. – The Kentucky State Parks will be taking part in the country’s largest hands-on volunteer effort to improve public lands on Sept. 29 – National Public Lands Day.

Several parks will be holding volunteer efforts with local businesses and organizations to work on trails, clean up trails and lake shores, plant trees and other improvements.

“This is a great opportunity for Kentuckians to show their support for state parks and other public lands,” said Parks Commissioner J.T. Miller. “I encourage civic organizations and others with an interest in improving our parks and other public lands to pitch in and help.”

Governor Ernie Fletcher issued a proclamation declaring Sept. 29 National Public Lands Day in Kentucky.

National Public Lands Day is sponsored by the National Environmental Education and Training Foundation. Each year, the foundation also sponsors an annual Volunteer Photo Contest as part of Public Lands Day. Volunteers can enter pictures from Public Lands Day and can win prizes and have the pictures published. For more information and guidelines, visit www.publiclandsday.org Entry deadline is Nov.1, 2007.

Here is a listing of Kentucky State Park events planned for National Public Lands Day on or around Sept. 29:

Barren River State Resort Park (Lucas): Barren River has an overnight canoe trip planned for Sept. 29-30. During the trip, participants will be picking up trash along the way to help celebrate National Public Lands Day. The park provides all of the equipment and instruction. This course is opened to beginners and experienced outdoorsmen. Space is limited; pre-registration is required.  Contact Lisa.Deavers@ky.gov or call 1-800-325-0057 for more information.  Registration fee of $75 per person includes equipment rental, instruction and meals.

Big Bone Lick State Park (Union):  Employees from Toyota, the event’s national sponsor, will be working at Big Bone Lick State Park on Sept. 29. They will be helping with many projects geared to help beautify and enhance educational opportunities for the park. For more information, call 859-384-3522.

Blue Licks Battlefield State Resort Park (Mount Olivet): Volunteers are needed to remove litter from walking and hiking trails, clean roadsides, plant flowers and pull weeds. The park will also be celebrating the Short’s Goldenrod Festival on Sept. 29. The festival honors an endangered species found at the park and will include informative guided walks and hikes, free canoe trips, live animal programs, farmer's market, a variety of workshops and guest speakers throughout the day. Call 1-800-443-7008 for information.

Butler-Turpin State Historic House (Carrollton): The Butler-Turpin State Historic House will team with the Carrollton Main Street Program during the week of Sept. 24-29 for National Public Lands Day. Volunteers will improve natural habitats around the historic home built in 1859, clear a 1790's archaeology site, plant trees, paint signs and clean up a 1930's Civilian Conservation Corp shelter building. "Save Historic Highland Avenue" a cleanup project to restore life and beauty to a stretch of Highway U.S. 42 in historic downtown Carrollton, includes planting trees, mowing, weeding, trash pickup and a door to door campaign for citizen commitment and awareness. To volunteer, call 502-732-4384, Project Coordinator: Evelyn Welch - Historic Site Museum Manager. Groups such as scouts, school groups and others are invited to participant. Volunteers can also call the Carrollton Main Street Office to sign up - 502-732-5713.

Columbus-Belmont State Park (Columbus): The park will hold a "Trenches and Trails Day."  Volunteers will pick up trash and sticks, paint markers, and perform other work.  The work starts at 9 a.m. at Shelter B. Call 270-677-2327 for information.

Dale Hollow Lake State Resort Park (Burkesville): Show your appreciation for your public lands by volunteering to help clean our park.  Beginning at 1 p.m. Central time, we will be hiking our trails picking up litter around the park.  To show our appreciation for volunteers that help that day, we will have a hot dog and marshmallow roast that evening at 7 p.m. along with fun and games. For information, contact Jamie Avery at 1-800-325-2282 or jamie.avery@ky.gov

E.P. “Tom” Sawyer State Park (Louisville): E.P. “Tom” Sawyer State Park will be celebrating National Public Lands Day on Sunday, Sept. 30, with a volunteer effort to remove invasive plants and improve our trails.  Show your support for our parks and come out and help.  Projects start at 2 p.m. and will last until 5 p.m.  Volunteers should dress for the weather and bring work gloves if possible.  Contact Park Naturalist Tessa Edelen for more information at (502) 429-7270.

Fort Boonesborough State Park (Richmond): Volunteers from Toyota, the event’s national sponsor, will join with other organizations to work at Fort Boonesborough. Work starts at 8 a.m. and will include tree and flower planting, removal of evasive plants, painting, road and beach clean up and more. The Fort Boonesborough Foundation has purchased $1,000 in trees for planting. For information, contact Bryan Cole at 859-527-3131.

Greenbo Lake State Resort Park (Greenup): Beginner’s Backpacking Trip on Sept. 29. Let the staff at Greenbo Lake teach you the basics of backpacking while you spend a night in the backcountry of the 3,300 acres of Greenbo Lake State Resort Park.  These trips are designed for those that are both experienced and inexperienced.  We provide the instruction as well as all the equipment needed so you can try out the backpacking experience before choosing to invest in the sport.  Participants will be participating in National Public Lands Day by picking up trash along the trail and lakeshore. The trip starts Saturday morning and ends Sunday afternoon.  Pre-registration required. Cost of $75 includes rental of equipment, instruction and meals.  Call 1-800-325-0083.

Kenlake State Resort Park (Hardin): Celebrate National Public Lands Day

at Kenlake from 9 a.m. to noon with planting flowers for the fall, trash pickup along trails and shoreline, and a trash-to-treasure auction. The trash will serve as “money” for the auction of gift shop items. At noon, a cookout for volunteers will be held at the lodge. For information, call Cathy Clark at 1-800-325-0143.

Kentucky Dam Village State Resort Park (Gilbertsville): Kentucky Dam Village State Resort Park will celebrate Public Lands Day on Sept. 29 with a tour to our eagle nest. Meet at the Village Inn lobby to form a motorcade at 9 a.m. After viewing the eagle nest and wetlands area, enjoy the rest of the day with shoreline hiking, biking, picnicking, tennis or fishing. For more information call 270-362-4271.

Lake Barkley State Resort Park (Cadiz): Lake Barkley State Resort Park will be sprucing up public lands and celebrating our volunteers to honor National Public Lands Day on Sept. 29. Volunteers will restore an old campground amphitheater, refurbish facilities at a trap range, clear and maintain trails, and develop a native plant garden. At lunch, we’ll serve a Volunteer Appreciation Cookout at Barkley Beach to any registered volunteer from the morning’s crews, as well as any previously-registered volunteers from the past year.  Groups or individuals interested in assisting at this event may contact Park Naturalist Jenny Howard at jenny.howard@ky.gov or 1-800-325-1708.