Army Corps hosts successful Take Pride in Blue Marsh Day

Published May 1, 2017
April 29, 2017 – Blue Marsh Lake held its 36th annual “Take Pride in Blue Marsh” volunteer work day on April 29, 2017. More than 350 volunteers assisted with picking up ten cubic yards of litter, planted over 5000 seedlings, replaced two bridges on the trail, rehabilitated the visitor center garden into a pollinator display garden, completed five separate trail projects, built ten new tables, painted twenty five picnic tables, spread mulch in numerous gardens and play pits, landscaped the bathhouse and fee booth areas, general spring time cleanup of the park areas and other activities.

The volunteers included Boy and Girl Scout troops, cub scouts and brownies, geocachers, master gardeners, local church groups as well as numerous other civic groups and individuals from the public. The Charles E. Bechtel Chapter of the Ruffed Grouse Society also assisted on Saturday. They worked on upland wildlife habitat by planting 1000 Aspen seedling in the woodcock management area below the Blue Marsh Dam.

The volunteers were treated to a picnic lunch donated by local businesses, which was prepared by volunteers from the Pagoda Ramblers, a local chapter of the Family Campers and RVer’s organization. 

This program was started in 1981 by local members of the Pagoda Ramblers as the state conservation project for the Family Campers and Hikers Association. This association evolved into the current Family Campers and RVer’s organization. Several original members of the organization still participate in the program. Over the years, the organization has provided more than $150,000 of volunteer labor for Blue Marsh Lake. On average, all of the volunteers involved in The Take Pride in Blue Marsh Lake program provide the equivalent of one full-time worker in just one day. 

For additional information on getting involved with helping out at Blue Marsh Lake in the future, please contact Scott Sunderland at the Park Office at 610 376-6337.

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Contact
Scott Sunderland
Scott.D.Sunderland@usace.army.mil

Release no. 17-010