National Grid Employees Get Dirty for Earth Day, Beautify Camillus Parks

Event reflects National Grid's commitment to environmental responsibility and protection

SYRACUSE, N.Y. – In honor of Earth Day, approximately 100 local National Grid employee volunteers today participated in two community service projects in Camillus. At Camillus Park, volunteers constructed a new entryway off of Winding Way, created a stone dust pathway that connects the park to the nearby Orchard Village neighborhood and also planted shrubbery and cleaned up around the grounds of a picnic area. Additional National Grid volunteers cleared a walking and running trail from the boat house on Warners Rd. to the aqueduct at the Camillus Erie Canal Park.

“We are proud to take part in these two volunteer projects in Camillus in recognition of Earth Day 2015,” said Melanie Littlejohn, National Grid regional executive of Central New York. “National Grid is a longtime supporter of environmental conservation and volunteer activities that support the communities we serve. The Erie Canal is filled with rich history that played a key role in our state’s formation. We are committed to making a positive and lasting contribution to the area and keeping history alive to help create a better environment for customers and generations to come.”

Camillus Park is a heavily wooded area within Orchard Village that spans 35 acres. A unique, local treasure, the park began as farm land donated by Florence Munro in 1952 to Onondaga County with the stipulation it be used perpetually as a public park and playground.

Camillus Erie Canal Park is home to Camillus Landing, the midpoint of the Erie Canal. The park encompasses the first enlargement of the Erie Canal, a seven-mile section. The park also features the Sims’ Store Museum, boat rides along the enlarged Erie Canal and remnants of the original Clinton’s Ditch Erie Canal. Camillus Erie Canal Park was founded over 40 years ago by David and Liz Beebe.

“We are so excited to have National Grid volunteers helping to preserve both Camillus Park and the Erie Canal Park,” said Mary Flynn, president of The Friends of Camillus Town Park. “With the rich history of the area and the canal’s role in the development of New York we are thrilled National Grid selected these parks as their 2015 Earth Day volunteer activity.”

Earth Day 2015 also marks National Grid’s 16th consecutive Tree Line USA Award from the Arbor Day Foundation for the company’s efforts to achieve safe, reliable electric service, and abundant, healthy trees across its service area.

In addition to the activities in Camillus, over a dozen other company-sponsored Earth Day projects and events continue to take place across New York, Massachusetts and Rhode Island. Over 500 volunteer employees help to revitalize local communities served by National Grid to give back to the community and to promote protecting the environment for future generations.

Leveraging the power of social media to promote Earth Day, National Grid launched its Pledge to Save Energy Sweepstakes challenging the nearly 7 million U.S. residents in its service areas to take a pledge to make greener choices and to share them on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram, with #GridGoesGreen #Sweeps.

The Sweepstakes began on April 22, 2015 and end on June 30, 2015. Five winners will be drawn randomly on a biweekly basis, and receive a National Grid energy saving pack worth approximately $250. The Grand Prize will be drawn on July 1, 2015 with the winner to receive a $2,500 prize to continue to support sustainable energy choices.

To enter, follow National Grid on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram. Then write your energy saving pledge in the spirit of raising energy conservation awareness, and post or share your original idea (tagging @NationalGrid) with the hashtags #GridGoesGreen and #Sweeps. Each eligible participant is allowed one entry per social media platform, for a total of three.

National Grid employees strive to integrate care for the environment in every business decision and daily operation. With a proud tradition of volunteering and a big focus on sustainability, National Grid looks forward to getting out and supporting Earth Day each year in the many communities it serves. From the largest to the smallest, these events have a lasting impact on National Grid employee volunteers and the communities where they live and work.