Earth Day volunteers needed for Montaña De Oro State Park cleanup
–Volunteers and sponsors at California State Parks Foundation’s (CSPF’s) 20th Earth Day Restoration & Cleanup, presented by Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E), will participate in environmental improvement projects at Montaña de Oro State Park and 34 other state parks on Saturday, April 21.
At Montaña de Oro, volunteers will restore gravel pathways, trim vegetation, sand and finish benches and rebuild podiums at Campfire Center; restore coastal bluffs by removing non-native invasive plants and planting native species; as well as trimming vegetation along trail edges. With continued budget restrictions at state parks, volunteers will complete projects prior to the busy summer season to help keep parks clean and safe for all to enjoy. PG&E is providing a $250,000 grant to the CSPF for supplies and materials to be used for Earth Day 2018 projects statewide.
The public – men, women and children who want to help are all invited to participate- plus California State Parks Foundation rangers. Safety is our top priority. Please wear appropriate clothing to perform outdoor maintenance tasks. Long pants, long-sleeved shirts, hats and sunscreen are recommended.
The evvent will start at 8 a.m.(for registration) and go until 1 p.m. There will be a welcome message and brief remarks at 8:30 a.m. before groups head out to work locations. They will be starting outside Spooner Ranch House, 3550 Pecho Valley Road, in Los Osos.
To celebrate Earth Day by making real, tangible impact in our parks, thousands of Californians of all ages volunteer with CSPF each year. Many California state parks are in urgent need of maintenance and restoration due to budget cuts and reduced staffing, and this annual program helps complete projects that would otherwise not get done in those parks.
Since its inception in 1998, CSPF’s Earth Day Restoration & Cleanup program has resulted in 86,876 participants contributing more than 343,574 volunteer hours’ worth nearly $6.6 million in park maintenance and improvements. Additionally, nearly $6.75 million has been raised through the Earth Day program to benefit state parks and the millions of Californians who rely on them for recreation, education, and inspiration. Sponsors this year include PG&E, Target, Oracle and United Airlines, and grant providers include Edison International, Union Bank, Southern California Gas Company and Intel. In-kind sponsors include Subway Restaurants, Peet’s Coffee and Nature’s Path.
For more information, visit www.calparks.org/earthday.
