Volunteers Needed For Annual Spring Cleanup At New Germany State Park

Grantsville, Md. (March 21, 2011) — New Germany State Park invites volunteers of all ages to participate in its annual Spring Cleanup Day from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. on April 9.

“This is a wonderful opportunity for students to earn service learning hours for school while helping to keep their local park clean and beautiful,” said Luke Mongrain, Park Ranger at New Germany State Park.

Volunteers will work together with park staff to help clean up and prepare the park for the upcoming summer season. A free pizza lunch will be provided for the volunteers, courtesy of the Friends of New Germany.

Volunteers are encouraged to pre-register by contacting Ranger Mongrain at 301-895-5453 or lmongrain@dnr.state.md.us. For more information about New Germany State Park, please visit http://dnr.maryland.gov, or call the Ranger Station at 301-895-5453.

Maryland State Parks not only provide great outdoor recreation for Marylanders and visitors, they are also a great asset to State and local economies. According to a recent study, conducted in partnership with the Maryland Department of Business and Economic Development, the Maryland Office of Tourism Development and the Maryland Association of Destination Marketing Organizations, Maryland State Parks have an estimated annual economic benefit of more than $650 million. In 2010, visitors directly spent more than $567 million locally — $25.56 locally for every dollar the State invests in State Parks —during their visits. And 94 to 95 percent of visitors had their expectations met or exceeded during visits.

The Maryland Department of Natural Resources is the state agency responsible for providing natural and living resource-related services to citizens and visitors. DNR manages nearly one-half million 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 11 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