(BROOKLYN, NY) January 11, 2016 – More than 500 young volunteers from across New York City will conduct an extensive coastal clean-up project at Gateway National Recreation Area to honor the memory of Martin Luther King, Jr.
The event – sponsored by the Student Conservation Association (SCA) with support from American Express – will take place on Saturday, January 16th, from 9:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., and is part of the ongoing “Find Your Park” campaign marking the 2016 centennial of the National Park Service.
“Service to nature advances Martin Luther King’s legacy as well as our quality of life,” states SCA President and CEO Jaime Matyas. “The local leadership provided by these young people, from every sector of the city, is vital for our communities and an enormously fitting tribute to Doctor King.”
Through their partnership, SCA and American Express are mobilizing thousands of volunteers to conserve and preserve parks across the United States. “Find Your Park” volunteer events celebrate the National Park Service’s 2016 Centennial and complement American Express’ multi-year partnership with the National Park Foundation to support the Department of the Interior’s plan to increase the number of volunteers serving in national parks and public lands to one million annually.
The 9,000 acre Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge is a vital bird sanctuary, with more than 330 migrating species observed over the past 25 years. Volunteers will fan out over a more than a mile of shoreline to remove tons of washed-up debris.
Volunteers will be provided with a free breakfast and lunch, and the first 500 registered volunteers will receive a free SCA “Find Your Park” tee shirt. Register online at http://FindYourParkSCAnyc.eventbrite.com.
Participants are asked to meet at the Ryan Visitor Center at Floyd Bennett Field, Gateway National Recreation Area, on Flatbush Avenue in Brooklyn. SCA will offer free volunteer shuttles from Brooklyn College to the Ryan Visitor Center.