Rock Creek Park Launches Volunteer Stewardship Initiative to Commemorate 125th Anniversary

Date: September 24, 2015
Contact: Emily Linroth, 202-619-7156

WASHINGTON-- In honor of Rock Creek Park's 125th birthday, the National Park Service today launched a new stewardship program. The program empowers community partners to help take care of the park.

The Sustaining Our Lands with Volunteer Energy (SOLVE) program encourages community groups to adopt a place in the park for a year and provides a variety of volunteer opportunities, including weeding flower beds, picking up trash, pruning small trees and building and maintaining trails.

"We're very excited to work with our community partners to welcome people to Rock Creek Park," Superintendent Tara Morrison said. "I can't think of a better way to celebrate Rock Creek Park's 125th birthday than by inspiring more people to help care for and connect with this incredible place in their backyard.

Community partners are kicking off the stewardship program with volunteer events throughout D.C. this Saturday, September 26, in celebration of National Public Lands Day

·Fort Bunker Hill: Join the Brookland Neighborhood Civic Association for trail cleanup and beautification from8:30 a.m. to 12 p.m. Contact: Ian MacFarlane, [e-mail]

·Dumbarton Oaks Park: Join Dumbarton Oaks Conservancy for trail work from9 a.m. to 1 p.m.Contact: http://dopark.org/contact-us

·Piney Branch Parkway: VOLUNTEERS NEEDED! Join Rock Creek Conservancy for clean-up and invasive plant removal from10 a.m. to 12 p.m.Contact: http://www.rockcreekconservancy.org/who-we-are/contact-us

·Meridian Hill Park: Join Washington Parks &People to remove invasive plants, and  cleanup and tree work from10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Contact: http://dev.washingtonparks.net/volunteer/

·Chevy Chase Circle: Join the Friends of Chevy Chase Circle for community outreach and park cleanup from1 p.m. to 3 p.m. Contact: [e-mail].

To join an event and learn more about SOLVE, please visit https://go.nps.gov/solve.