Friends of Tuscarora and Locust Lake group works to support local parks

KAYLEE LINDENMUTH / SHENANDOAH SENTINEL - The lake at Tuscarora State Park.

BARNESVILLE – A new volunteer group is working to support our two local state parks.

The Friends of Tuscarora and Locust Lake State Parks, a chapter of the Pennsylvania Parks and Forest Foundation, formed in March of 2021 with a mission to inspire stewardship and to sustain and enhance
Pennsylvania’s state parks and forests.

The group meets monthly, alternating dates between both Tuscarora and Locust Lake State Parks.

Volunteers work closely with state park staff and perform volunteer repairs and clean up as needed.

So far, the group has handled litter control on the roads leading to and around the parks, cleaned up dump sites in the park, trimmed trees, planted flowers, and mulched around the Tuscarora park office, and cleared park trails.

The group plans to build blue bird boxes and box monitoring, and to repair playground equipment and trails.

They are hosting fundraisers throughout the year, with the Bark in the Park event set for Sunday, Oct. 3 from 12-4 at Locust Lake.

“It is full of special activities, educational programs, a dog walk, low-cost microchipping, silent auctions and more,” the group said in a release. ” Donations, sponsorships, and vendors are still needed for this event. As at 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, contributions and donations to the program are fully tax deductible. Donations can be made at: http://bit.ly/donatetofriendsoftll.

The group also has a Facebook page and website, at www.facebook.com/FriendsofTLL, and http://bit.ly/FriendsofTLL. Contact [email protected] for more information.

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