| Contacts: | Denise Adamic, BLM (719) 269-8553, dadamic@blm.gov |
150 to Volunteer in Canon City on National Public Lands Day (09-27-12)
CAÑON CITY, Colo. – On Saturday Sept. 29, volunteers across the nation will take part in National Public Lands Day, the nation's largest, single-day volunteer event for public lands in the United States. As part of NPLD, Canon City’s Garden Park area will gain a new trail thanks to hundreds of volunteers. The effort is hosted by the BLM Royal Gorge Field Office and Volunteers for Outdoor Colorado.
**MEDIA, INCLUDING CAMERAS, ARE INVITED TO CAPTURE THIS SPECIAL DAY OF SERVICE **
WHO: Approximately 75 volunteers are expected each day.
WHAT: PHOTO and INTERVIEW OPPORTUNITY: Volunteers will get their hands dirty building a new trail that will offer recreational opportunities for locals and visitors to the area. This is an exciting opportunity to capture people’s spirit of service and the desire to care for Colorado’s treasured public lands. Interviews may be conducted on-site with volunteers and representatives from the BLM and Volunteers for Outdoor Colorado.
WHEN: Saturday-Sunday, Sept. 29-30, 8am – 4pm
WHERE: Garden Park, 6 miles north of Canon City; Directions to the site:
• In Canon City from Hwy US-50, turn north onto Dozier Ave.
• Dozier Ave. will curve to the west and become Central Ave.
• At the intersection of Central Ave. and Field Ave., turn north onto Field Ave.
• Travel on Field Ave. (two lane road) for 2 miles where it joins County Road 9 (also called Red Canyon Road) via a 'Y' type intersection.
• Take the right fork onto County Road 9. Travel north for approx. 4 miles.
• Take a right (east) onto the dirt BLM Road #5940, just after you cross the creek.
• Follow BLM Road #5940 (dirt road) up the hill for approximately ½ mile to the project site on your right. Follow the VOC signs.
WHY: This effort is part of the nationwide National Public Lands Day, which began in 1994. Last year, 170,000 volunteers worked at over 2,080 sites. NPLD volunteers:
• Removed an estimated 450 tons of trash
• Collected an estimated 20,000 pounds of invasive plants
• Built and maintained an estimated 1,320 miles of trails
• Planted an estimated 100,000 trees, shrubs and other native plants
• Contributed an estimated $15 million to improve public lands across the country
CONTACT: For information, to schedule an interview, or for a map to the site, please contact Andrea Sinor at 303-564- 6492, andrea@voc.org, or Denise Adamic, BLM (719) 269-8553, dadamic@blm.gov. Photos will be available following the event.
The BLM manages more than 245 million acres of public land, the most of any Federal agency. This land, known as the National System of Public Lands, is primarily located in 12 Western states, including Alaska. The BLM also administers 700 million acres of sub-surface mineral estate throughout the nation. In Fiscal Year (FY) 2011, recreational and other activities on BLM-managed land contributed more than $130 billion to the U.S. economy and supported more than 600,000 American jobs. The Bureau is also one of a handful of agencies that collects more revenue than it spends. In FY 2012, nearly $5.7 billion will be generated on lands managed by the BLM, which operates on a $1.1 billion budget. The BLM's multiple-use mission is to sustain the health and productivity of the public lands for the use and enjoyment of present and future generations. The Bureau accomplishes this by managing such activities as outdoor recreation, livestock grazing, mineral development, and energy production, and by conserving natural, historical, cultural, and other resources on public lands.
3028 E Main Street Canon City, CO 81212