Hundreds of volunteers will spend day sprucing up local parks | The News Tribune

You can celebrate Earth Day, Arbor Day, National Parks Week and local parks in one event by taking part in the 15th annual Parks Appreciation Day in Pierce County. The event will run from 9 a.m.-noon Saturday at locations across the county.

Participants should wear weather-appropriate clothing, but be prepared to get dirty. They also can bringsmall hand tools, loppers, pruners, gloves, rakes, shovels, pitch forks and wheelbarrows (label them!).

Organizers also encourage volunteers to carpool for easier parking.

Each year, about 2,500 people take part in the event, donating 7,500 hours of work. That is worth as much as $200,000 to the various agencies involved.

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During a typical appreciation day, more than 200 cubic yards of debris are removed, more than 150 bags of litter collected, some 15 cubic yards of gravel and 600 yards of mulch and wood chips are spread, and more than 2,000 plants, trees and shrubs are planted.

How to take part: Families and individuals do not need to pre-register. Just show up at a site ready to help. Large groups and organizations should call the site contact person so organizers can plan ahead.

Learn more: Go to parksappreciationday.net or co.pierce.wa.us/index.aspx?NID=1502.

Olympia events

Also taking place Saturday is the Earth Day Service Events & Student Challenge, organized by the Parks, Arts, Recreation and Culture Foundation in Olympia. The event will run from 10 a.m.-1 p.m.

Working with 3 Degrees, the foundation will award $500 to the Thurston County area school with the most student volunteers participating.

The work sites and contact information are:

Wonderwood Park: 5304 32nd Ave. SE, Lacey. Register at ci.lacey.wa.us.

Priest Point Park: 2600 East Bay Drive NE, Olympia. Register at olympiawa.gov/experienceit.

Tumwater Historical Park: 802 Deschutes Way SW, Tumwater. Register at ci.tumwater.wa.us.