Earth Day Celebrations Marked by Parks Concessionaire

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TO ENVIRONMENTAL AND OUTDOORS EDITORS:

Earth Day Celebrations Marked by Parks Concessionaire

NEW YORK, BUFFALO, Apr. 20 -/E-Wire/-- Earth Day, one of the most enduring symbols of ecological awareness, turns 31 years old on Sunday, April 22. And in keeping with the spirit of Earth Day, Delaware North Parks Services (DNPS) is marking the occasion with several special events.

"Who has more reason to celebrate Earth Day than we who work and, in some cases live, in national and state parks," said Szefel. "DNPS is privileged to provide hospitality to millions of visitors from the Pacific Ocean to the lakes and rivers of the Mid-West and the thunder of the Niagara Falls. I'd encourage everyone to celebrate Earth Day this weekend by visiting their local park."

Several DNPS venues are holding events celebrating Earth Day, including initiatives designed to involve school children. Among them:

* The Earth Day Grocery Bag Project -- a nationwide effort teaming students and grocers to spread the message of Earth Day. Students at Grand Canyon Elementary School decorated brown paper bags with messages about reducing, reusing, and recycling, as part of a contest at the school. The bags will be returned to the Canyon Village Marketplace, and on Earth Day, customers will receive their purchases in the decorated bags. The contest generated 153 entries and winners will be announced at the school and the store. Yosemite Valley Elementary School students also participated and decorated bags for use on Earth Day at the Yosemite Village Store.

* Students at Grand Canyon Junior/Senior High School were asked to design Earth Day T-shirts incorporating the words "Grand Canyon," "Earth Day," and "2001." Over 60 entries were received and all designs are posted at the Canyon Village Marketplace.

* The National Park Service is teaming with the Grand Canyon School, Grand Canyon Association and DNPS on a revegetation project for the park's Mohave housing area. Eighty seventh and eighth grade students will trench out 200-300 feet of earth that will be filled with rock and soil, and place 140 plants in the ground. The students will then enjoy a picnic sponsored by DNPS. At Yosemite, a similar service project will see Black Oak seedlings planted in the National Park Service-designated Black Oak woodlands on Earth Day morning.

* In Sequoia National Park, the campaign to elect the Giant Sequoia as America's National Tree is enjoying a surge of momentum and calling attention to the need to preserve and protect these natural treasures. For more information, visit the National Arbor Day Foundation's website at http://www.arborday.org.

DNPS is also using Earth Day to call attention to GreenPath, the company's program dedicated to ensuring that environmental awareness is a critical part of all business decisions and operations.

"GreenPath is Delaware North's way of celebrating Earth Day everyday," said Dennis M. Szefel, president of Delaware North Parks Services.

Szefel is particularly proud of a GreenPath initiative that has seen DNPS focus on and expand its award-winning recycling waste reduction and energy conservation practices. The company's work at Yosemite National Park has already received recognition as the Waste Reduction Program of the Year by the California Environmental Protection Agency.

Delaware North Parks Services' expertise includes operations in a broad range of hotels and restaurants, retail stores, tours, educational programs and leisure activities. The company serves as guardians of such national treasures as Yosemite and Sequoia National Parks, Kennedy Space Center, Niagara Falls, Deer Creek State Park in Ohio, Roaring River State Park in Missouri, Oregon Caves in Cave Junction, Oregon, and the Asilomar Conference Grounds in Pacific Grove, California.

Delaware North Companies Incorporated is a privately held international company with annual revenues in excess of $1.4 billion. Its seven independent operating units are industry leaders in traditional concessions and fine dining, hospitality and recreation services, sports and leisure facilities management, and retail operations.

Delaware North Parks Services

http://www.arborday.org

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