Trending
While we are proud of our state parks and get much out of them -- recreation, relaxation, peace and quiet, and the economic boost that comes from other visitors -- Mountain State residents don't often think about ways in which we can give back to our parks. This weekend presents an opportunity.
Saturday will be the first Tread Lightly! Day WV, in 10 state parks, including Canaan Valley Resort. The others are Bluestone, Cacapon Resort, Cedar Creek, Chief Logan, North Bend, Tomlinson Run, Tu-Endie-Wei, Twin Falls Resort and Tygart Lake.
"West Virginia's natural beauty is a treasure that belongs to us all and Tread Lightly! Day WV is an opportunity for us to come together and show our commitment to preserving these lands for future generations," said Brett McMillion, director of the West Virginia Division of Natural Resources, which oversees the state parks system.
Participation is simple. Pack out one bag of trash on that day, during an outdoor adventure, and dispose of it properly. Organizers will estimate the amount of trash picked up via use of the social media hashtag #WVTLDAY. It is sad to think simply picking up one bag of trash and disposing of it properly will be a novel event in the parks. Too many must be treating our beautiful forests, trails and streams like dumpsters.
"With tourism booming, a lot of people are coming to West Virginia and we want to set an example for how to take care of our public lands," said Jerry Bain, chairman of the Country Roads Coalition. "If people visiting our state know that we work this hard to take care of our public lands, they will respect it too and it will make more people want to come to West Virginia because they will see that we are stewarding something truly special here."
Here's hoping, anyway. But the bottom line is those who care about the parks should seize the opportunity to do a little more for them Saturday. Most of us tread lightly, anyway, but the event is a chance to lighten the load left by others. Let's make it happen.