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Once again, the weather cleared for “I Love My Park Day” on the first Saturday in May. Bethlehem's fourth annual "I Love My Park Day" event took place at Town Hall.   Volunteers, Town staff and the capable crew from Pettinellli & Associates installed a beautiful new red, white and blue playground. Meanwhile, outside the construction area, volunteers of all ages – including local Girl Scouts and Town Hall neighbors – weeded, raked, trimmed and planted flowers. What a difference a morning can make!

The Friends board is deeply grateful to M&T Bank for being our corporate sponsor for a fourth year and to those who provided generous in-kind donations -- Hewitt’s Garden Center (Glenmont) and Hannaford (Delmar).  We would also like to thank the Parks & Trails New York, Pettinelli & Associates, members of the Bethlehem Police Officers' Union, and the Town of Bethlehem for their guidance, hard work, materials, and equipment.  But most of all we want to thank every “I Love My Park Day” volunteer who participated. What a great group of people!

"I Love My Park Day" is a statewide event coordinated by Parks & Trails New York. Saturday's sixth annual "I Love My Park Day" was celebrated at over 125 locations throughout New York State, with volunteer efforts coordinated by local friends groups.

Please join us next year on the first Saturday in May for “I Love My Park Day” 2018!

Friends of Bethlehem Parks and Recreation received a generous grant from the Bethlehem Business Women’s Club. The funds will be used for a water station -- water fountain, bottle filler, jug filler and mister -- to be located in Elm Avenue Park near the new playground, soon-to-be-completed fitness circuit and picnic pavilions. Members of the two organizations pictured here are Joan Gavrilik, Marilyn Kaltenborn, Nan Lanahan, Andrea Angerame, Catherine Lowenski, Paula Rollins, Mary Lyn Koval and Sally Cooney.

Town Hall Playground and Ball Field will be the site of Bethlehem’s 2017 “I Love My Park Day” on Saturday, May 6, from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m.  Hosted by Friends of Bethlehem Parks and Recreation in conjunction with Parks & Trails New York and the Town of Bethlehem, the event is being sponsored by a generous donation from M&T Bank.

Adult volunteers are being sought to install new playground equipment, and adult and youth volunteers are needed to clean up the ball field, plant flowers and serve refreshments.  Volunteers may register for two shifts – 8-10:30am and/or 10:30am-1pm.  The first 50 volunteers to register by April 19 will receive a Friends of Bethlehem Parks and Recreation t-shirt. The event will be held rain or shine.

Parks & Trails New York organized the first “I Love My Park Day” in 2012 to enhance State parks and historic sites, boost volunteerism and raise the visibility of the State parks system. Many local parks and their friends groups now participate in the event as well.  Bethlehem has been sponsoring an “I Love My Park Day” since 2014, with past events held at the Moh-He-Con-Nuck Nature Preserve, Selkirk Park and Henry Hudson Park.

Registration:

To volunteer, contact info@friendsofbethlehemparks.org. In your email, please indicate:

• # of adults volunteering for playground construction – please specify 8–10:30 am shift, 10:30am-1pm shift, or both
• # of adults and youth volunteering for ball field cleanup, planting and serving refreshments – please specify 8–10:30 am shift, 10:30am-1pm shift, or both (If possible, please bring work gloves, a rake and gardening tools.)
• # of t-shirts requested and sizes (Available in adult small, medium, large, extra-large, and 2x)

Volunteers should wear long-sleeved shirts and long pants to protect themselves from scrapes and insect bites, as well as shoes appropriate for muddy conditions.

Safety is paramount – the playground will be a construction site.  A crew from Miracle Recreation will guide volunteers through the playground assembly – no construction experience is necessary.  Children are invited to watch the construction, but will not be allowed in the construction area and must be supervised at all times.

Directions: Town Hall Playground and Ball Field are adjacent to the Bethlehem Town Hall at 445 Delaware Avenue in Delmar

Show Bethlehem parks some love — volunteer on May 6!
This event will be held rain or shine!

View the Bethlehem “I Love My Park Day” flyer.

Click here for the full brochure .

Spend the day with Friends in Boston!! Attend the Boston Flower & Garden Show. This year’s theme is “Superheroes of the Garden” -- for more information, visit bostonflowershow.com. Or spend the day your way – explore the North End, go to the New England Aquarium, walk the Freedom Trail, visit one of the world-class museums, or take advantage of Boston’s unique shopping scene.

The bus will leave Elm Avenue Park at 8 a.m. and return at 10 p.m. The cost is $65 per person for the bus and a discounted Flower Show ticket, or $49 for the bus alone. The cost includes a driver’s tip, an afternoon shuttle from the Flower Show to Faneuil Hall, and a donation to Friends of Bethlehem Parks and Recreation.

Print out the flyer , complete the form, and submit your payment by February 21.

Questions? Contact info@friendsofbethlehemparks.org or call 518-605-6580.

Bethlehem is having a First Night celebration – a family-friendly, fun event – on New Year’s Eve, Saturday, December 31.  It will kick off at 6:30 pm with Fireworks at the Four Corners, followed by entertainment from 7 to 10 pm at nearby locations. Join us for an evening of music and family fun, including ice  sculpting, face painting, interactive theater and crafts for kids, a battle of the high school bands, and music of every genre and for every age!

Volunteers are needed at all locations – 2-hour shifts – inside or out.  Please call 605-6580 or email info@friendsofbethlehemparks.org to sign up!

First Night buttons are available online at Eventbrite.com and at the Delmar Marketplace (at the Four Corners).
-- Adults: $10 in advance, $15 at the event
-- Ages 12-18: $5 (in advance and at the event)
-- Kids under 12: Free!
Proceeds will go to programs that help our less fortunate neighbors.

Presented in partnership by the Town of Bethlehem, Bethlehem Chamber of Commerce, and the Bethlehem Community Fund.

Click here for flyer   

Click here for schedule