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ParkPalooza Will Provide Visitors With Educational Fun
 Jefferson National Expansion Memorial will host the second “ParkPalooza” special event on the grounds of the Gateway Arch on September 12-13, 2009 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
each day. The free event will be full of adventure and fun family activities, including crafts for kids, music, rock climbing, wildlife encounters, historical demonstrations of 19th century folk life, archeological digs, a giant river aquarium, biking, backpacking and reel casting.
The purpose of ParkPalooza is to allow families to get a taste of the world of the National Park Service through a variety of outdoor activities. ParkPalooza will highlight the various programs, sites, and recreational opportunities available throughout the United States and its possessions in National Parks. “As the Arch is the Gateway to the West, ParkPalooza is a gateway to national park experiences,” said Frank Mares, Deputy Superintendent of the Memorial. Following the “No Child Left Inside” initiative, the activities will encourage people young and old to become stewards of public lands.
ParkPalooza will consist of a variety of recreation stations set up on the grounds of the Gateway Arch, with individual areas staffed by National Park Service rangers from Jefferson Nationl Expansion Memorial and other park sites. Jefferson National Parks Association provides funding for the event and has also engaged with several local entities and organizations who share the goal of enhancing awareness about the benefits of public lands. These sponsors are supporting the event through financial and in-kind donations. Executive Director David Grove is thrilled to be participating. “I learned the value of national parks as a young person and instill this in my own children. With ParkPalooza we will be able to provide rich educational experiences for area families who may not realize the great opportunities that await them in their national parks.”
This year’s ParkPalooza will be set up in a more concentrated area than last year’s, with all of the activities located along the walk between the Gateway Arch Parking Garage on Washington Street and the north leg of the Arch. It is hoped that ParkPalooza will help to reconnect people with their parks, as well as build capacity for critical park operations and facilities and sustain them through the next century. Visit our ParkPalooza page to learn more about the event activities and this year's ParkPalooza Photo Contest where you can win a Kodak EasyShare Camera.
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© 2012 Jefferson National Parks Association. |
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