I Love My Park Day kicks off outdoor recreation season at Two Rivers State Park

A representative from Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s office will join the community and the Friends of Greater Two Rivers State Park as the group hosts an I Love My Park Day event at Two Rivers State Park and Waverly Glen Park on Saturday, May 5.

Phillip Rumsey, from the governor’s regional office, will be among the local, regional and state dignitaries in attendance at the event, which begins at 9 a.m.

Local groups and residents can still register to help with some fun projects in Two Rivers State Park. Volunteer registration is available at www.ptny.org.

I Love My Park Day is a state-wide event where volunteers assist with projects that help to get state parks ready for the outdoor recreation season. I Love My Park Day is coordinated at the statewide level by Parks & Trails New York (PTNY) in partnership with the New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation (OPRHP). Friends groups and park staff oversee the projects and work with volunteers.

Two Rivers State Park is a 600-acre park with miles of trails for hiking and biking through wooded land and open fields that overlook the valley that comprises Waverly, N.Y. and Sayre, Pa., and a reservoir for boating and fishing. Two Rivers can be accessed from the trails at Waverly Glen Park, which has picnic facilities, a waterfall, ample parking, tennis courts and playgrounds.  

The Friends of Greater Two Rivers State Park is a team of Waverly officials and residents, the Carantouan Greenway, and Tioga County offices that work with New York State Parks to help maintain and improve the park.

This year’s I Love My Park Day features projects at Two Rivers in addition to clean-up and maintenance activities. Volunteers can choose to work on painting projects, repair of a space where invasive plants are growing, or assist with cleanup in the Glenwood Cemetery, which is located next to the parks.

Children can paint rocks to be left in the park. Birdhouses that were painted last year will be installed and mapped. Additionally, Marty Borko, from Carantouan Greenway, will lead a group on a bird-watching hike and also have bug spray for volunteers and information about how to prevent Lyme disease.

Refreshments will be provided for volunteers before and after activities.  

“This has been a great event for Two Rivers, and we’re thrilled to see the growth over the years,” said Victoria Srnka, park supervisor, adding, “Last year we had 45 volunteers and this year we hope to at least double that number. It shows the love this community has for these parks, and the work the volunteers do at these events have a huge impact on Two Rivers as we enter our summer season.” 

To register to volunteer at Two Rivers State Park on I Love My Park Day, visit www.ptny.org/events/i-love-my-park-day, click the link to register for I Love My Park Day and choose the Finger Lakes region to find Two Rivers State Park.

For more information on Two Rivers State Park, visit www.NYSparks.ny.gov or www.experiencetioga.com.