Carlsbad to Celebrate National Public Lands Day with Volunteer Project

CARLSBAD, CA — The city of Carlsbad will celebrate National Public Lands Day with a volunteer trail and park clean up on Saturday, Sept. 24 at Hidden Canyon Community Park at 2685 Vancouver St.

The event will take place from 8:30 a.m. until 11:30 a.m. on the short trail that connects to the Ann L’Heureux Dog Park, located on Carlsbad Village Drive. Volunteer work will include trail surface improvements, installation of trail signage, brush removal and tree and shrub planting at the lower park.

Staff will be on hand to provide information on the city’s trail system and to assist with the day’s work activities.

National Public Lands Day is the nation’s largest, single-day volunteer effort aimed at educating the public about the environment and natural resources to improve public lands for outdoor recreation.

“Every September, the city looks forward to the opportunity to join with other communities nationwide in a special day of volunteer activities focused on improving public lands throughout the country,” said Liz Ketabian, city of Carlsbad park planning manager.

National Public Lands Day is sponsored by the National Environmental Education Foundation, which was chartered by Congress in 1990 to advance environmental knowledge. The national volunteer day began in 1994 with just three sites and 700 volunteers, and last year approximately 175,000 volunteers worked at 2,206 sites in every state.

In Carlsbad, hundreds of volunteers have participated in city-sponsored events such as National Public Lands Day and other activities that support stewardship for the environment and healthy outdoor activities.

Registration for the Sept. 24 event is not required. The city will provide tools, water and light snacks. Volunteers should bring gloves and wear long pants, hats, sunscreen and closed toe shoes.

Directions to the National Public Lands Day trail event at Hidden Canyon Community Park:

• Exit I-5 on Carlsbad Village Drive;
• Head east on Carlsbad Village Drive for approximately one-half mile;
• Turn left on Concord Street and continue to end of street; and
• Turn left on Vancouver Street, then park in the lot at the park on the left along Vancouver Street.

Volunteers need to check-in and a short training session will take place before work begins.

For more information, visit Carlsbadca.gov/trails and Publiclandsday.org.

— News release and photo from the city of Carlsbad