Making a Difference on Public Lands
NPLD 2019 IMPACT
On September 28, 2019, over 156,000 volunteers participated in volunteer activities at more than 2,000 public lands sites in 49 states, including Puerto Rico and Washington, DC.
26th Annual National Public Lands Day Sees 38% Increase in Volunteer Turnout
Volunteers joined in trail building projects, coastal and park clean ups, interpretive classes, guided hikes and bike rides, and other outdoor fun. It was all part of the 26th annual National Public Lands Day (NPLD), the nation’s largest single-day volunteer effort for America’s public lands.
2019 NPLD impact
Each year, the National Environmental Education Foundation (NEEF) coordinates NPLD with support from national corporate sponsor Toyota North America, seven federal agency partners, hundreds of state and local partners, and dozens of nonprofit organizations. The main goal of this national volunteering effort is to promote the connection between people and the environment. NEEF estimates that this year’s NPLD volunteers contributed almost $16M in services to public lands.
National Public Lands Day is not only a day of service, it is a day to connect with others and to recognize the benefits of their helping hands. We simply could not keep our national forests and grasslands healthy, resilient and productive without the help and support of our volunteers and partners.
Chris French, Deputy Chief of National Forest System, US Forest Service
Recognizing the importance of encouraging more people to get outside and enjoy public spaces, NPLD was also designated a Fee-Free Day by the National Park Service and other participating federal agencies, including the US Forest Service, Bureau of Land Management, and US Army Corps of Engineers.
NPLD Impacts
Volunteers
NPLD Sites Across the Country
Value of Volunteer Work
Conservation IMPACTs
1,002,647
Square Feet of Invasive Species Removed
35,159
Trees and Flowers Planted
139,187
Pounds of Trash Collected
136
Public Facilities Built or Maintained
42,252
Acres of Public Lands Restored
268
Miles of Trails and Rivers Maintained
2019 Signature Site: Rock Creek Park
At the NPLD Signature Event in Rock Creek Park in Washington, DC, NEEF partnered with the National Park Service, Rock Creek Conservancy, and Toyota to host over 150 volunteers at one of the country’s oldest national parks. They were welcomed by David Vela, Acting Deputy Director of Operations for the National Park Service, who spoke of the importance of NPLD as a way to give back to the public lands that provide us with so much. Volunteers then spread out throughout this 1,800-acre urban oasis, rolled up their sleeves, and got to work on a variety of trail maintenance, clean-up, and native planting activities.
Also at the event, Kevin Butt, general manager of Toyota Environmental Sustainability, announced a $200,000 grant to support conservation projects within the National Capital Region (NCR). This area includes Washington, DC as well as portions of Maryland, Virginia, and West Virginia. Serving as NPLD corporate sponsor for the 21st straight year, Toyota hosted two dozen additional volunteer events around the country on Saturday.
Rock Creek Park Named NPLD 2019 Signature Site
Each year, the National Environmental Education Foundation (NEEF) partners with a public lands site to host...
2019 NPLD Highlighted Sites: Winners
NPLD Highlighted Sites: Sponsorship Opportunity Thanks to all the Site Managers that took the time to nominate...
This grant helps parks to effectively reduce invasive plant impacts and increase habitat for threatened native wildlife, it ties in with our biodiversity goals and aims to conserve habitat for future generations.
NPLD Stories
Read how volunteers, site managers, families, and more spent their time volunteering for National Public Lands Day.
Beaching on NPLD
Saskia Gomez likes to spend weekends at the beach, and National Public Lands Day is no different. However...
A Little Kaizen and Yokoten Make a Successful NPLD Event
Kathryn Ragsdale, corporate communications manager for Toyota Motor North America, has been a National Public...
Love Your Local Park? Set Up an NPLD Event to Take Care of It!
Whether you’re a park employee who loves preserving public lands or simply someone who has fond memories of...
Thank you for your interest in National Public Lands Day (NPLD) sponsorship! NEEF is offering several opportunities for you to support this exciting event. Contact our team to learn more.
National Corporate Sponsor
Other Sponsors
Federal Partners
