GA Power volunteers participate in ‘Your State Parks Day’ cleanup effort

SKIDAWAY ISLAND, Ga. (WTOC) - Georgia Power volunteers did trail maintenance and beautification efforts at Skidaway Island National Park on Saturday as part of the “Your State Parks Day.”

They said hundreds of volunteers were out across the Peach State for the annual event hosted by Friends of Georgia State Parks & Historic Sites to clean up, beautify, and care for state parks in celebration of National Public Lands Day.

Friends is a nonprofit organization with a mission to serve, support, and celebrate Georgia State Parks & Historic Sites.

Georgia Power also donated $10,000 to help kickstart a new fundraising effort by Friends to place free EnChroma color accessibility glasses in all Georgia State Parks for visitor use.

“For many people with red-green color vision deficiency, the vibrant colors of fall foliage, spring wildflowers, and Georgia’s scenic landscapes may appear less distinct. EnChroma glasses use specialized optical filters designed to enhance color contrast, helping many people distinguish certain colors more easily,” they wrote.

Georgia Power’s donation follows a $25,000 donation at the end of 2025 to Friends to develop the program, and previous work with the Aimee Copeland Foundation to place all-terrain Trackchairs in Georgia State Parks for visitor use.

“Georgia’s state parks are a tremendous natural resource and asset for our state, driving travel and tourism for local communities and hosting millions of visitors each year,” said Trey Kilpatrick, senior vice president of External Affairs. “At Georgia Power, we’re committed to making our communities better because we are here. We’re excited to help more visitors enjoy a full experience through the Georgia in Color initiative, and to continue to partner with Friends of Georgia State Parks to protect and care for these special places so they can be enjoyed by Georgians and visitors from around the world for generations to come.”

“Georgia in Color is about helping more visitors fully experience the natural beauty of Georgia’s state parks,” said Damon Kirkpatrick, president and CEO of Friends of Georgia State Parks & Historic Sites. “Georgia Power’s generous investment in this initiative, together with the hands-on service of its volunteers, demonstrates a meaningful commitment to making these treasured places more accessible, welcoming, and enjoyable for everyone.”