WASHINGTON – On Thursday, March 17, U.S. Secretary of the Interior Sally Jewell will deliver remarks at a dedication ceremony for the Palmer Bayou Boardwalk at Trinity River National Wildlife Refuge (NWR) in Liberty, Texas. Jewell will be joined by American Federation of Labor and Congress of Industrial Organizations (AFL-CIO) President and Union Sportsmen’s Alliance Chairman of the Board Richard L. Trumka.
As part of the Trinity River NWR’s “From Crossroads to Boardwalks” initiative, volunteers from the Houston Gulf Coast Building & Construction Trades built an elevated boardwalk that features an observation deck with views of the bayou. The boardwalk traverses more than 500 feet of wetlands and connects the refuge to the city of Liberty’s existing trail system, providing visitors with access to 13 miles of trails.
The boardwalk represents the culmination of the largest conservation effort thus far under a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) signed between the Interior Department and the Union Sportsmen’s Alliance, an AFL-CIO member, to foster partnerships between federal, state and local agencies and other conservation groups in protecting land and water for future generations. The Union Sportsmen's Alliance reports there are more than 7 million union members who recreate regularly in the outdoors, making them one of the nation's largest single constituencies of outdoor users.
Who:
Sally Jewell, U.S. Secretary of the Interior
Richard L. Trumka, President, American Federation of Labor and Congress of Industrial Organizations and Union Sportsmen’s Alliance Chairman
Dr. Benjamin Tuggle, Director, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Southwest Region
Stuart Marcus, Refuge Manager, Trinity River National Wildlife Refuge
Carl Pickett, Mayor, Town of Liberty
What:
Remarks at Trinity River National Wildlife Refuge dedication ceremony
When:
Thursday, March 17, 2016
10:45 a.m. CST – Media check-in
11:00 a.m. CST – Dedication ceremony followed by a brief media availability
12:00 p.m. CST – Ribbon cutting
Where:
Liberty Municipal Park
501 Revinson Drive
Liberty, TX 77575
Media:
Credentialed members of the media are encouraged to RSVP here. Conditions may be muddy; please wear appropriate attire and footwear.
Source: Department of Interior
