Secretary Jewell, Congresswoman Tsongas to Celebrate River Day in Massachusetts, Highlight Obama Administration’s Every Kid in a Park Initiative
LOWELL, Mass. – On Saturday, Sept. 12, U.S. Secretary of the Interior Sally Jewell will join U.S. Representative Niki Tsongas to celebrate the Congresswoman’s annual River Day, highlighting the integral role the state’s waterways play in connecting and contributing to communities nationwide.
Jewell and Tsongas will kick off the celebration in Concord at Minute Man National Historical Park by canoeing on the Concord River. They will then discuss the importance of rivers and conservation efforts, including the need to reauthorize the Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF). The LWCF is responsible for preserving the Barrett’s Farm House on the grounds of the Minute Man National Historical Park, and has provided more than $200 million since its inception to preserve some of Massachusetts’s most special places.
They will also meet with local fourth grade students in support of President Obama’s Every Kid in a Park initiative – launched by Secretary Jewell earlier this month – to distribute free passes to America’s federal lands and waters. The Every Kid in a Park program seeks to connect young people with the great outdoors. As of Sept. 1, the program allows fourth graders nationwide to go to www.everykidinapark.gov and obtain a pass for free entry for them and their families to more than 2,000 federally managed lands and waters across the nation for an entire year.
Jewell and Tsongas will then head to Lowell National Historical Park to take a boat tour of the river and canal system and meet with students.
Event #1:
Who:
Sally Jewell, U.S. Secretary of the Interior
Niki Tsongas, U.S Representative (MA-3)
Nancy Nelson, Superintendent, Minute Man National Historical Park
Heather McMann, Executive Director, Groundwork Lawrence
Anna West Winter, Executive Director, Save Our Heritage
Alison Field Juma, Chairman, Wild and Scenic River Stewardship
Council
What:
National River Day celebration
When:
Saturday, Sept. 12, 2015
10:00 a.m. EDT – Media check-in; Jewell and Tsongas greeting 4th graders at canoe landing, b roll opportunity
10:15 a.m. EDT – Press conference
10:45 a.m. EDT – Every Kid in a Park activity, b roll opportunity
11:00 a.m. EDT – Media availability
Where:
North Bridge
300 Monument Street
Concord, MA 01742
After parking in the lot, the North Bridge is reachable by a short walk down a dirt road.
Media:
Credentialed members of the media are encouraged to RSVP here.
Event #2:
Who:
Sally Jewell, U.S. Secretary of the Interior
Niki Tsongas, U.S Representative (MA-3)
Celeste Bernardo, Superintendent, Lowell National Historical Park
Dr. James Mabry, Middlesex Community College President
What:
National River Day celebration
When:
Saturday, Sept. 12, 2015
12:00 p.m. EDT – Canal boat ride, b roll opportunity
12:30 p.m. EDT – Media check-in
12:40 p.m. PDT – Press conference
1:10 p.m. EDT – Every Kid in a Park activity, b roll opportunity
1:15 p.m. EDT – Media availability
Where:
Middlesex Community College, Cowan Center
33 Kearney Square
Lowell, MA 01852
Media:
Credentialed members of the media are encouraged to RSVP here.
Source: Department of Interior
