GREAT SMOKY MOUNTAINS NATIONAL PARK – National Park Service officials are looking for volunteers for a two day spring cleaning. In 2016, more than 11,300,000 people visited Great Smoky Mountains National Park in Tennessee and North Carolina. Visitors enjoyed hiking the trails, picnicking, exploring historic places, and taking in the magnificent mountain views.

While the majority of visitors to the park abide by “Leave No Trace” principles, sometimes trash gets left behind. Also, over the winter season, debris collects next to roadways and in grassy areas throughout the park. All this trash and debris needs to be cleaned up so park crews can mow the grass and get ready for the summer tourist season.

Volunteers are needed for two Spring Cleaning Work Days in 2017. Each day, work will begin at 9:00 a.m. and continue until 12:00 noon. Volunteers will pick up roadside trash and make sure the automobile pull-off areas are free of debris.

The two areas targeted for cleaning this year are the Gatlinburg Bypass in Tennessee and Lakeview Drive in North Carolina. These are very popular routes and keeping them clean and safe is important.

• Spring Cleaning Work Day for Gatlinburg Bypass is Monday, 8 May 2017, from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 noon.
• Spring Cleaning Work Day for Lakeview Drive is Tuesday, 9 May 2017, from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 noon.

If you need more information, or want to volunteer for this important project, call Adam Monroe with the National Park Service at 828-497-1949. He is asking that volunteers RSVP by Friday, 5 May 2017.

Be quick, the 5th of May is almost here~! Thank you for volunteering to help keep Great Smoky Mountains National Park clean and safe for all our guests.