Arapaho National Recreation Area anglers, hikers, campers and sit-on-the-shore-to-watch-sunsets pass holders have the opportunity to get a free 2008-2009 annual recreation pass by taking part in litter cleanup this weekend.
The annual ANRA cleanup day is Saturday.

About 50 or so participants usually take part in the event, which has been an annual spring work-gloves affair since 2002, according to Recreation Manager Dan Matthews of the U.S. Forest Service.

The cleanup day was spurred by frequent park users asking for a way to skirt buying a pass when forest land was proposed to be a fee area.

“Volunteers help to improve the area, and we give them a pass for helping us out,” Matthews said.

The four-hour event consists mainly of picking up trash along Lake Granby shoreline, the roadway and trailheads.

Interested volunteers will meet at 8 a.m. at the Greenridge boat ramp on County Road 66, or at Sunset Point boat launch off of Arapaho Bay Road, and expect to work until noon.

Participants will be provided sign-up papers for a free ANRA annual parks pass worth $30, or the value of the pass may redeemed for a pass upgrade, such as an interagency pass that can be used at parks across the nation.

For more information, contact the U.S. Forest Service office at 887-4100.

— Tonya Bina can be reached at 887-3334 ext. 19603 or e-mail tbina@grandcountynews.com.