Efforts Assist in Protection of New York's State Parks

Contacts:

Larissa Graham, New York Sea Grant, P: (631) 632-9216, E: ljg85@cornell.edu

Ariana Newell, New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation, P: (631) 581-1072, E: Ariana.Newell@parks.ny.gov

Stony Brook, NY, June 8, 2012 - New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation and the Long Island Sound Study will be holding a volunteer event this Sunday, June 10th, 9AM, at Sunken Meadow State Park in Kings Park, NY.

Sunken Meadow State Park is one of the Long Island Sound Study’s Stewardship Areas which were designated due to their recreational and ecological importance. Garlic mustard was recently found along one of the trails and quick action is necessary to stop the spread of this harmful invasive plant.

During this volunteer event, participants will be removing garlic mustard which grows in the understory of the forest. This event is free, but we ask that volunteers wear long pants and bring work gloves, sunscreen, and bug spray. We will provide all other equipment that will be needed.

Register at http://bit.ly/Jm8rRs or call/email Larissa at (631) 632-9216 or ljg85@cornell.edu or Ariana at (631) 581-1072 or Ariana.Newell@parks.ny.gov. Or, just come the day of the event! We’ll be meeting outside the park office by Lot 1 at 9am.

The Long Island Sound Study, conducted under the Environmental Protection Agency’s National Estuary Program, is a cooperative effort between the EPA and the states of Connecticut and New York to restore and protect the Sound and its ecosystems.

New York Sea Grant (NYSG), a cooperative program of Cornell University and the State University of New York, is one of 32 university-based programs under the National Sea Grant College Program (NSGCP) of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). The NSGCP engages this network of the nation’s top universities in conducting scientific research, education, training and extension projects designed to foster science-based decisions about the use and conservation of our aquatic resources. Through its statewide network of integrated services, NYSG has been promoting coastal vitality, environmental sustainability, and citizen awareness about the State’s marine and Great Lakes resources since 1971. For updates on Sea Grant activities: www.nyseagrant.org has RSS, Facebook Twitter and YouTube links.

For more information on the Long Island Sound Study and its efforts, please visit www.longislandsoundstudy.net. News on the Long Island Sound Study can also be found in New York Sea Grant's related archives.

For more information on New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation, please visit nysparks.com/parks.