'I Love My Parks' Day: Clean Up Yorktown, Explore Outdoors

Friends of FDR State Park will host volunteers at Franklin D. Roosevelt State Park

Volunteers will participate in cleanup, improvement and beautification events happening statewide on Saturday, May 4 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. 

"The focus of the day is to improve and enhance New York’s state parks and historic sites and bring visibility to the entire state park system and its needs," Karen Melanson of the NYS Parks Taconic Region said. 

In Yorktown, you can give the bushes a shaking and the ground a raking, in addition to other park-related activities to get ready for the spring and summer seasons. Volunteers are asked to bring work gloves and water.

Those interested in volunteering in the project at FDR can register to volunteer by visiting www.ptny.org/ilovemypark or by calling 914-245-4434.

"It’s sure to be another great day for the park" Park Manager Brian Strasavich said. 

The Franklin D. Roosevelt State Park is known for its pool that can hold 3,500 bathers, spacious picnic areas, basketball courts, soccer and softball fields and a golf course. The park is also hosts more than 40 special events annually including benefit runs and walks. 

I Love My Park Day is coordinated at the statewide-level by Parks & Trails New York (PTNY) in partnership with the New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation (OPRHP). Friends groups and park staff will oversee cleanup, improvement and beautification projects and work with volunteers.

Franklin D. Roosevelt State Park is located at 2957 Crompond Road in Yorktown Heights.

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Besides Franklin D. Roosevelt State Park, volunteers will be working on invasive removal and beautification of the barn area at Granite Knolls Park. The event is run by Yorktown Conservation Board and Yorktown Advisory Committee on Open Space, and the Yorktown Trails committee of the New York - New Jersey Trail Conference.

Volunteers are asked to bring loppers or small hand saws, gloves, water, and lunch (if you are staying for lunch.) The trails are suitable for mountain bikes - some easy runs and some with more challenges (narrow, twisty, or rocky). Maps will be available for longer hikes or rides.

"The barn itself is very dangerous," Walt Daniels said. "Do not enter under any circumstances. We do not advise bringing young children for the work portion of the activities as some of it will be near the barn or road. They are welcome on the hike at 2 p.m."

Parking is slightly south of and across the street from the barn, about half-way between the gas line crossing and the main entrance to Phoenix Academy, on the west side of Stony Street, Daniels said. Drive to the end of the driveway and turn left into a former tennis court, now a parking lot for ball fields which are being installed. Walk 0.2 mile down the driveway to the barn. 

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