The United States is home to 600 million acres of public land, some of which are the most vast and diverse spaces in the world.
In honor of America’s open space, all 397 national parks will offer free entrance on Saturday, September 29 for National Public Lands Day. The 19th annual event is an effort by the National Park Service to motivate people to get outside, enjoy the outdoors, and volunteer on eco-friendly work projects.
As many as 170,000 participants are expected to spend a part of the day planting trees, cleaning watersheds, removing plants, and replacing signs. Some parks hosting volunteer events are:
- Cuyahoga Valley National Park in Ohio
- Fort Pulaski National Monument in Georgia
- San Juan National Historic Site in Puerto Rico
- Rocky Mountain National Park in Colorado
- Prince William Forest Park in Virginia
Volunteers will receive a coupon good for future entrance to a national park. (Admission for 133 of the national parks normally range from $3 to $25. The other 264 parks do not charge for admission.) Visit Public Lands Day for more information.
*The National Park Service will also waive entrance fees from November 10-12 in commemoration of Veterans Day.
