State Parks Adjust Holiday Schedule For Service Reduction Days

Annapolis, Md. (November 9, 2010) — As part of the State’s Furlough and Temporary Salary Reduction Plan, Maryland State Parks and other public lands managed by the State will be closed during service reduction days for the 2010 holiday season. Public use parking lots, buildings and other facilities will not be available on those days. Maryland State Parks will be open and operational on Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Eve, New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day.

The Holiday closing schedule is as follows:

• November 24 (day before Thanksgiving) – Service Reduction Day
• December 23 – Service Reduction Day
• December 25 (Christmas Day)
• December 30 – Service Reduction Day

All State Park camping and cabin reservations will be honored on those days. Law enforcement personnel (Maryland Park Service Rangers and Natural Resources Police) will be on duty during the holidays and service reduction days.

In addition to regular holidays (Thanksgiving Day, Native American Appreciation Day, Christmas Day and New Years Day), all DNR offices will be closed on service reduction days (November 24, December 23, Christmas Eve, December 30 and New Years Eve) as well.

On May 21, 2010, Governor O’Malley issued Executive Order 01.01.2010.11, “Fiscal Year 2011 State Employees’ Furlough and Temporary Salary Reduction Plan,” detailing the continuing, urgent need to reduce State budget expenditures through a combination of a temporary reduction in salaries, furloughs, and service reduction days. It is estimated that the furlough and salary reduction plans will save the State more than $100 million and prevent the elimination of more than 1,500 State jobs.

For more information on State Parks, visit to http://www.dnr.maryland.gov/publiclands/.

For more information on the recent budget reductions visit http://www.governor.maryland.gov/pressreleases/090825.asp.

The Maryland Department of Natural Resources (DNR), which is celebrating its 40th anniversary this year, is the state agency responsible for providing natural and living resource-related services to citizens and visitors. DNR manages more than 461,000 acres of public lands and 17,000 miles of waterways, along with Maryland's forests, fisheries, and wildlife for maximum environmental, economic and quality of life benefits. A national leader in land conservation, DNR-managed parks and natural, historic, and cultural resources attract 12 million visitors annually. DNR is the lead agency in Maryland's effort to restore the Chesapeake Bay, the state's number one environmental priority. Learn more at www.dnr.maryland.gov