National Park Service Offers Special Programs For National Public Lands Day

Date: September 10, 2009
Contact: Mike Andrus, 804 226-1981 x. 30

Join Maggie L. Walker National Historic Site and Richmond National Battlefield Park on Saturday, September 26, 2009 for the 16th annual National Public Lands Day and help us care for Richmond’s public lands. National Public Lands Day is the nation’s largest hands-on volunteer effort to improve and enhance the public lands Americans enjoy. To learn more about Public Lands Day go to www.npld.com/involved .

About the Programs
Maggie L. Walker NHS will host a community clean up of the planned route for its new self guided podcast tour of historic sites in Jackson Ward connected to the life of Maggie Walker. The walking tour will begin at the Maggie L. Walker National Historic Site visitor center and from there will lead visitors along 2nd St. Clay St, 3rd St., Jackson St., St. James St., 1st St. and Leigh St. All interested individuals are invited to join park staff in removing trash and trimming vegetation along the proposed route. Participants should meet at the Maggie L.Walker National Historic Site visitor center, located at 600 N. 2nd Street at 10:00 a.m. to see a preview of the new Ken Burns documentary, The National Parks: America’s Best Idea, followed by remarks from Park Superintendent David Ruth. The clean-up of the podcast tour route will begin at 11:00 a.m. and is expected to end by 1:00 p.m. Water and light refreshments will be provded in the park’s courtyard. Those interested in participating in the Jackson Ward clean-up on National Public Lands Day should call the site at 804-771-2017 x 24 and leave a message providing name, contact information and number of participants.

Also on the 26th, Richmond National Battlefield Park will present a weekend series of special events commemorating the 145th Anniversary of the battle of Chaffin’s Farm at Fort Harrison. Activities from from 10:00 to 5:00 on Saturday and from 10:00 to 3:000 on Sunday. On Saturday evening visitors are invited to bring blankets or lawn chairs and join local musician Al Neal for “Songs Around the Campfire,” an evening of Civil War era music, beginning at 7:00 p.m. These events are free. Parking is available at the Fort Harrison Visitor Center, located eight miles east of Richmond off VA Route 5 at 8621 Battlefield Park Road.