RICHMOND — Virginia’s state parks will celebrate National Public Lands Day on Sept. 28, the Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation announced.
Held every year on the fourth Saturday in September, the nation’s largest single-day volunteer effort for public lands highlights the vital impact of public lands and brings together hundreds of thousands of volunteers across the country, fostering community and teamwork, according to the Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR).
“We’re proud to celebrate National Public Lands Day, a special opportunity for individuals, families and communities to come together in appreciation of the natural beauty and rich history our parks offer,” said Virginia State Parks Director Melissa Baker. “This day of service honors the vital role public lands play in our lives, from preserving wildlife habitats to offering spaces for recreation. We invite everyone to experience the outdoors and help protect these treasured landscapes for future generations.”
DCR notes Virginia’s state park system offers 43 parks, totaling roughly 80,000 acres, for public benefit, and each park relies heavily on volunteers for everything from trail maintenance to interpretive programs. In 2023 alone, volunteers across the state donated 218,147 hours of service, equivalent to 104 full-time employees, it said.
For National Public Lands Day (NPLD), more than 30 volunteer opportunities, including invasive species removal, beach and trail cleanups and habitat restoration, will be hosted by Virginia State Parks. Parks will also offer a range of environmental education activities, such as guided hikes, bird surveys and tree identification programs.
York River State Park will host an event on Sept. 28 from 10 a.m. to noon that will highlight the success of the living shoreline and its impact on marine life. Friends from the Chesapeake Bay National Estuarine Reserve and Williamsburg Montessori School will lead a count of aquatic species along the breakwaters and marshes. Observing and recording the findings is a great way to monitor the diversity and health of the park.
For the complete list of NPLD events, go to virginiastateparks.gov/public-
