Explore the Outdoors — U.S. Forest Service Offers Fee-Free Day For National Public Lands Day

Tallahassee, Fla. – In recognition of the 2009 National Public Lands Day, the U.S. Forest Service is waiving fees to the public on Sept. 26 at select day-use recreation areas in the Apalachicola, Osceola and Ocala National Forests.

National Public Lands Day was established to encourage citizen stewardship and visitation to public lands managed by the Department of Agriculture and the Department of Interior. This year’s 16th annual National Public Lands Day, sponsored by the National Environmental Education Foundation with the support of eight other federal agencies, focuses on educating the public about the importance of natural resources.

The Forest Service recreation sites listed are the only locations waiving day-use fees on Sept. 26:

Ocala National Forest:
Mill Dam Day Use, Fore Lake Day Use, Farles Day Use, Lake Eaton Boat Ramp and Pier,
Mill Dam Boat Ramp

Apalachicola National Forest:
Leon Sinks Geological Area

Osceola National Forest:
Olustee Beach Day Use Area

The public may contact the National Forests in Florida local Ranger District Offices for more information:

Apalachicola National Forest:
Apalachicola Ranger District – (850) 643-2282; Wakulla Ranger District – (850) 926-3561

Ocala National Forest:
Lake George Ranger District – (352) 625-2520; Seminole Ranger District – (352) 669-3153

Osceola National Forest:
Osceola Ranger District – (386) 752-2577

To learn more about the National Forests in Florida, visit www.fs.fed.us/r8/florida. Follow us on Twitter at www.twitter.com/NFinFlorida.

For more information on National Public Lands Day, visit http://www.publiclandsday.org/.