Greenbelt Friends Observe National Public Lands Day

In observance of National Public Lands Day, the
"nation’s largest hands-on volunteer effort to improve and enhance the public lands American’s enjoy," according to the U.S. Department of the Interior, the Friends of the Long Pond Greenbelt will host a trash pick-up and a celebration Saturday in Sag Harbor.

It starts with the trash pick-up at 8 a.m. for about an hour at a field behind the on the Bridgehampton Sag Harbor Turnpike, said Friends of the Long Pond Greenbelt President Dai Dayton. It is the site of the Friends' grasslands restoration project. The litter there is remnants from the days it was an active farm field, Dayton explained. "Usually we find lots of bottles and wire."

Volunteers are asked to bring gloves; garbage bags will be provided.

Starting at 10 a.m., the Friends' annual celebration of the Long Pond Greenbelt begins at a second location. "We hike, we have activities for children, and we serve lunch," Dayton said. "It's a wonderful way to learn about the Greenbelt."

The Lond Pond Greenbelt is about 800 acres of preserved land wth hiking trails, including 13 ponds, which runs from in Sag Harbor to Sagg Pond in Sagaponack near the ocean, Dayton said. Guests of the free celebration do not have to attend the trash pick-up.

The Friends of the Long Pond Greenbelt is an all-volunteer organization. "We steward the Greenbelt and try to help it, and we hope people will appreciate it," Dayton said.

The hike kicking off the celebration starts from the end of Round Pond Lane in Sag Harbor, off Sagg Road. It lasts about an hour and will be followed by educational programs and activities, Dayton said. will bring a possum and raptors and Goat on a Boat Puppet Theater will make puppets with the children, among other guests and activities.

For more information or to RSVP for the trash pick-up and celebration, contact Dai Dayton at daidayton@aol.com or 631-745-0689.