From the Parks Department
April 18, 2009 and April 25, 2009
13th Annual Earth Day Challenge: Coming Together for Our CommunityApril 18 and April 25, the Greater Madison community will be celebrating its 13th Annual Earth Day Challenge in parks across Madison, coming together as neighborhoods, groups and individuals to pick-up trash, mulch, weed and work together to better our parks and our community.
“Each year the Earth Day Challenge allows Madison residents to unite as a collective force and take ownership of our community,” said Community Relations Coordinator Laura Whitmore. “Parks are more than an area of recreation; they are a part of our community. It is when we work together in support of our parks that we truly make them our own.”
The idea for Earth Day originated in Wisconsin in 1970 when Senator Gaylord Nelson set about to create a grassroots movement that would bring the environment to the forefront of the political spotlight. In its first year the event amassed more than 20 million participants and swiftly propelled the environment as a decisive issue in both the political and mainstream culture.
Over the years Earth Day has evolved into a global-wide event that celebrates environmental responsibility and mobilizes volunteers to take individual action to improve their local environment. Madison’s Earth Day is uniquely large, bringing in nearly 1,500 volunteers in over 75 parks in the last year and partnering with the United Way Youth Service Day to encourage community activism amongst young adults.
Individuals, neighborhood associations or groups of any size are encouraged to participate in the event and may join a current project or register their own project by no later than April 12th. Those registering a project will need to submit the location and time of the event, number of participants involved, project details and type of tools that will be needed. To register a project, please call 266-5949.
Which park(s) How many people will participate Time of your event The extent of your project (only trash pick up, mulching around trees, etc.) Tools needed (rakes, shovels, trash bags) This information will help us coordinate your specific project, our volunteer tool shed inventory and garbage pick up.
Participants can find details of registered projects on our website and should plan to work for around two or three hours, depending on the type of work for which they volunteer. Projects will focus on either clean-up or restoration and will take place at a variety of parks across the Madison area.
Individuals or groups are also encouraged to volunteer their time on community projects that extend beyond Earth Day. For volunteer opportunities or for more information on the Parks Division visit us at www.cityofmadison.com/parks or call 608-266-5949.
