Press Release
November 21, 2011
Peter Brancato
Dan Keefe
518-486-1868
Volunteers Clean Up Hempstead Lake State Park
New York State Parks Commissioner Rose Harvey thanked the more than 100 volunteers who joined State Park staff to clean-up of Hempstead Lake State Park on Saturday.
"I am grateful the many volunteers who donated their time and energy to beautify this wonderful park," Harvey said. "The effort is a great example of how our parks can thrive when people take pride in their parks. I'd like to express my special thanks to Lakewood Stables, which helped organize and promote the clean-up."
Volunteers worked for about four hours Saturday, removing an estimated five tons of trash and collecting 50 discarded tires from the shoreline of Northwest Pond in the park. The area of the park is plagued by illegal dumping, but budget constraints make it difficult for State Parks staff to regularly clean up the affected section.
Known for its tennis courts, children's playgrounds, and historic hand carved wooden carousel as well as opportunities for horse back riding, biking and hiking trails, and fishing, Hempstead Lake attracts nearly 350,000 people annually. It is one of 178 state parks and 35 historic sites administered by the New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation. For more information on any of these recreation areas, call 518.474.0456 or visit www.nysparks.com.