The Friends of Sleepy Hollow State Park has found another way for the public to help keep the park clean. The group is building trash bag dispensers for use at trail heads and other key locations in the park.

Called "Take a Sack, Bring it Back," the program allows park users to remove a bag from the dispenser at the beginning of their hike or visit, use it to pick up trash or dispose of their own and then drop the bag into a nearby trash can.

"Take a Sack, Bring it Back" is routered into the top of the dispenser, which is made of cedar lumber and holds 1000 plastic bags

The program is intended to be self sustaining as the group solicits sponsors for each dispenser and the bags. The sponsor makes a $100 donation to the Friends group to cover one year costs of construction, maintenance and supplies for each dispenser. The group recognizes the donor with a small plaque. The wording on the plaque says "Adopt a Trail" along with the sponsors's name.

Pictured above, along with some Friends' members, is the first sponsored dispenser, courtesy of Don's Country Store. Park visitors used the dispenser the same day it was installed. Two dispensers have been installed and it looks like the group has two or three additional local businesses lined up for sponsorships. The goal is to have dispensers at all major trail heads and picnic areas at Sleepy Hollow State Park