Volunteers Help with Spring Cleaning

Over 100 volunteers spent their Saturday morning helping Cowpens National Battlefield in a variety of ways as part of the National Parks America Tour. The Battlefield was the first of 20 park areas across the country to be selected to host this event. The event was funded in part by Unilever, Wal-Mart Stores, Inc., The National Park Foundation and Take Pride in America.

Volunteers worked with park staff to plant trees, paint benches, build split rail fences, weed and mulch around the visitor center and pick up litter along park roads. The volunteers collected 136 bags of litter and 19 tires along the roads.

For their efforts from 8:30 a.m. until 1:00 p.m. volunteers were treated to breakfast, The Great American Picnic, and an event t-shirt. Many of the volunteers live in the area but had never before visited the battlefield. “I have driven past, but never stopped before. I am glad that I came today; the park is beautiful,” said one volunteer.

The volunteers helped accomplish much needed visitor service and maintenance projects. “The National Parks America Tour volunteer event was a great way to help Cowpens National Battlefield complete projects to improve and restore the park for everyone’s enjoyment,” said Superintendent Tim Stone.

Furthermore, Wal-Mart donated $6,000 to Cowpens National Battlefield that will be used to support the park’s annual Independence Day event. This year the park will provide the free fireworks display to the public on the evening of June 30, 2007. The event usually draws a crowd of about 5,000 people.

Cowpens National Battlefield was established to protect and commemorate the 1781 battle that many consider to be the turning point of the Revolutionary War. The park is open seven days a week and contains a visitor center, one mile battlefield trail, tour loop road and picnic area. To learn more about the park activities please call [phone] or visit the park’s webpage at www.nps.gov/cowp.