The Erie County Department of Parks, Recreation and Forestry has announced the return of the popular “Fall for Erie County Parks” photo contest, which is open to Erie County residents and offers amateur photographers an opportunity to focus on the beauty of Erie County’s 10,000-acre parks system and snap their way to prizes.

From October 14 – November 7, residents are encouraged to grab their cameras and head for the Erie County Park of their choosing to capture digital images of beautiful fall foliage, serene park scenes, or other natural beauty in the Parks. Rules for the contest can be viewed at the Parks Department website .

“Autumn is a beautiful season at our Erie County parks and gives us a fleeting chance to see natural beauty at its height. The brilliance of fall foliage underscores the serenity of our park settings and offers unique chances at unforgettable photographs,” said Erie County Executive Mark C. Poloncarz. “In these next few weeks, outdoor enthusiasts will have multiple opportunities to snap a few pictures of their favorite sights in our Erie County parks and share them with the world through the Parks website and social media. The top three submissions will be recognized with prizes as well, so I encourage residents to come to our parks for a great autumn experience.”

Participants who live in Erie County can enter by posting their photos on Facebook and Twitter using the hashtag #FallforECParks . No professional photographs will be accepted. Only one entry per person can be submitted, and each submission must note which park the photo was taken at and (if possible) the location in the park. Only horizontal photos may be submitted, and participants will see their photos displayed by the Erie County Parks Department on their website and social media outlets.

“With 10,000 acres to explore and photograph, our Parks offer millions of great pictures,” said Erie County Commissioner of Parks, Recreation and Forestry Daniel J. Rizzo. “October is a wonderful month to be outside, so we encourage all amateur photographers to bring their cameras and creativity to our Erie County parks.”

Prizes for the 2016 Fall for Erie County Parks photo contest include a $50 Dick’s gift card for the first-place entry, a $25 Dick’s gift card for the second-place entry, and a water bottle and compass for the third-place entry. Entries will be posted on the Parks’ Department social media accounts as they are received through November 7.