This year, National Public Lands Day falls on Saturday, Sept. 26, and to celebrate, the National Park Service is opening all national parks to the public for free.
According to the National Park Service, National Public Lands Day was established in 1994 and is held on the fourth Saturday in September every year. Their website states that National Public Lands Day "celebrates the connection between people and green space in their community, inspires environmental stewardship, and encourages use of open space for education, recreation, and health benefits.
The NPS states that there are many ways to get involved in Public Lands Day, including taking part in a volunteer work project, getting outdoors, or visiting a national park for free. This weekend is one of just 6 weekends the National Park Service offers free entrance.
The National Park Service encourages people to follow their local COVID-19 guidelines when visiting or volunteering and to share their favorite outdoor activity on social media channels with the hashtags #NPLD, #NPSVolunteer, and #FindYourPark.
More information about the NPS response to COVID-19, including safety information can be found at www.nps.gov/coronavirus.
