Twenty-one of Iowa’s state parks and forests are hosting clean-up events this Saturday as part of Statewide Volunteer Day. Iowans are encouraged to find a park nearby and help to care for Iowa’s natural areas, freshen up campgrounds and facilities, and spend a little time outdoors.
Andy Bartlett, park manager at Ledges State Park in Boone County, says chores might include things like picking up litter, staining or painting buildings, rebuilding picnic tables and more.
“Volunteers are integral to the operations of our state parks. Not only does it help us with getting done work that we may not otherwise get done, but it also provides value to the volunteer and the fact that they’re giving back to that public land, that state park that they love so much,” Bartlett says. “We would definitely encourage at any of our state parks for you to reach out to the individual park office and just inquire about what opportunities might be available.”
The annual event typically attracts hundreds of helpers, and with 21 state parks in this year’s mix, he says there’s likely one close by that could use a little love. Ledges just reopened September 1st and Bartlett says Saturday’s focus will be on removing invasive plant species.
“We’ll use loppers and we’ll cut unwanted woody vegetation like black locust, autumn olive, honeysuckle, things that encroach on our native woodlands and kind of ruin the forest health, so to speak,” Bartlett says. “We’re looking for volunteers that want to come out, they want to lop or carry and pile invasive shrubs, and we’ll work for a couple hours near our Oakwoods Picnic Area.”
Each park’s projects will be a little different, but Bartlett says they can all use the extra hands. Volunteers are meeting at Ledges at 9 AM.
“If you have your own pair of loppers, you can bring your own loppers. You definitely want to wear long pants and closed-toed shoes. Bring a pair of work gloves as well,” he says. “And just dress for the forecast. If it calls for a little rain, wear your raincoat or it might be chilly in the morning, so dress in layers. We will be prepared with some extra gloves and extra tools and equipment as well, if folks don’t have that stuff to bring.”
Volunteers are needed at each of these state parks and forests for Saturday’s event:
· Bellevue State Park, Bellevue
· Elk Rock State Park, Knoxville
· Geode State Park, Danville
· Honey Creek State Park, Moravia
· Lacey-Keosauqua State Park, Keosauqua
· Lake Anita State Park, Anita
· Lake Darling State Park, Brighton
· Lake Keomah State Park, Oskaloosa
· Lake Macbride State Park, Solon
· Lake Wapello State Park, Drakesville
· Ledges State Park, Boone
· Pikes Peak State Park, McGregor
· Pilot Knob State Park Forest City
· Pine Lake State Park, Eldora
· Prairie Rose State Park, Harlan
· Springbrook State Park, Guthrie Center
· Stephens State Forest, Lucas
· Walnut Woods State Park, West Des Moines
· Wapsipinicon State Park, Anamosa
· Waubonsie State Park, Hamburg
· Yellow River State Forest, Harpers Ferry
