The Daily Citizen, Dalton, GA

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May 28, 2008

ParkPasses Available at Georgia libraries

ATLANTA – Georgia’s public libraries and Georgia State Parks & Historic Sites are making it easier than ever for patrons to “Get Out. Get Dirty. Get Fit.” in the state’s great outdoors. In advance of the June launch of the “Get Outdoors Georgia” (GO Georgia) campaign, a valid library card now allows any patron to borrow a Georgia State Park “ParkPass” and Historic Site pass from their local libraries. The passes are good for free parking or admission at any of the 63 parks and historic sites statewide.

Any Georgian who holds a valid library card from a participating public library system (including PINES) can check out a ParkPass folder for up to seven days. Folders include an annual ParkPass that exempts visitors from paying the daily parking fee at any Georgia state park, an annual Historic Site pass good for free admission for one visitor to any of Georgia’s 18 state historic sites. It also includes a copy of the “Guide to Georgia State Parks & Historic Sites” featuring descriptions, photos, directions and a map of all 63 state parks and historic sites. A joint initiative of the Georgia Public Library Service and Parks, Recreation & Historic Sites Division (PRHSD) of the Georgia Department of Natural Resources, the public library ParkPass Program will begin on Monday, June 2.

“We are pleased to offer the opportunity for people across the state to have increased access to all the natural beauty, culture and history available in Georgia,” explained Sally Winchester, marketing and communications manager for PRHSD. “It’s a great way to bring people into the parks and have them experience how much fun being outdoors can be. We hope that once people visit the parks, they will want to visit more often or even join the Friends of Georgia State Parks & Historic Sites.”

GO Georgia, a multi-year campaign, challenges Georgians especially families and children, to participate in family-friendly, nature-based, healthy outdoor recreation in the beautiful, secure surroundings of Georgia’s state parks. A new Web site, www.GetOutdoorsGeorgia.org, will launch in June to provide information, activities, and more for families and individuals.

“We want families and individuals to discover the great treasures that are so close to home and quite often, right in their own backyard,” said Becky Kelly, director of PRHSD. “Partnering with our local libraries is such a natural fit because they, too, are also assets to our state, our communities, and are accessible to every Georgian.”

Georgia State Parks & Historic Sites 63 properties that preserve the state's diverse environment and history. Included are 45 state parks, three state historic parks and 15 historic sites, stretching from the Blue Ridge Mountains to the Colonial Coast. Together, the sites offer an exceptional variety of resources, including mountains, canyons, forests, fields, marshes, waterfalls, lakes, swamps, rivers, battlefields, historic homes and Native American artifacts.

Among the park system’s most popular attractions are Amicalola Falls State Park in Dawsonville, the Dahlonega Gold Museum Historic Site, Etowah Indian Mounds Historic Site in Cartersville, Reed Bingham State Park in Adel, Roosevelt's Little White House Historic Site in Warm Springs, Tallulah Gorge State Park in Tallulah Falls and Unicoi State Park in Helen.

“Our historic sites teach about colonial life to Civil War battles; from Native American settlements to our nation's first gold rush,” said Kelley. “In just a short drive, you can paddle a sparkling blue lake, hike along a roaring waterfall or explore coastal salt marshes.”

According to Winchester, “The month of June is designated as National Great Outdoors Month so the timing is perfect to launch this program and integrate our “Get Outdoors Georgia” campaign into the national initiative.” In addition, on June 2 Gov. Sonny Perdue will sign a proclamation declaring June to be Georgia Great Outdoors Month. National Get Outdoors Month, which promotes the fun and value of time outdoors, is a signature designation given annually to June by the White House and governors across the United States.

Because of the expected popularity of the ParkPass loaner program, families interested in borrowing a ParkPass from their local public libraries are advised to plan early, as supplies of the ParkPass and related folders are limited. To see a list of parks and historic sites covered by the passes, visit www.GeorgiaStateParks.org. For more information about GO Georgia visit www.GetOutdoorsGeorgia.org.



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