Evanston's Earth and Arbor Day Events: Cleanup Efforts, Tree Plantings, Festivities

EVANSTON, IL - Community members are invited to participate this weekend in the city's annual Earth Day and Arbor Day cleanup initiatives at more than two dozen sites throughout the community.

"Clean up, Evanston!" is slated for Saturday, April 22, between 9 and 11 a.m. In addition to the sprucing activities will be free, family-friendly Earth Day festivities and nature play at the Evanston Ecology Center, 2024 McCormick Blvd. City officials will also hold a tree planting ceremony in front of the Morton Civic Center at the intersection of Ridge Avenue and Leonard Place at 10 a.m. to celebrate Evanston's longstanding Tree City USA designation.

Community groups and individuals of all ages can visit VolunteerEvanston.org, or call or text 847-448-4311 to sign up for cleanups at the following spots across the city:

• Ladd Arboretum and Twiggs Park – Ecology Center, 2024 McCormick Blvd.
• James Park – Fieldhouse, Dodge Ave. at Mulford St.
• Lovelace Park – Fieldhouse, Grosse Point Rd. at Thayer St.
• Lakefront, Greenwood St. to Clark St. – 1401 Sheridan Pl.
• Ingraham Park – Bike racks located just west of the Morton Civic Center, 2100 Ridge Ave.
• North Shore Channel – Dammrich Rowing Center, 3220 Oakton St., Skokie (ages 8 and up)
• Harbert Park – 1300 McDaniel Ave.
• Ridgeville Park – 908 Seward St.
• Elks Park – Callan Ave. and Mulford St.
• Dempster and Greenwood Street Beaches – 1251 Lakeshore Blvd.
• Chute Middle School, 1400 Oakton St.
• Haven Middle School, 2417 Prairie Ave.
• King Fine Arts School, 2424 Lake St.
• Nichols Middle School, 800 Greanleaf St.
• Canal Shores Golf Course (all six sites) – 1030 Central St.

District 65 school locations, which are listed on the city's volunteer page, also need helping hands.

This year’s events are made possible via partnerships with Evanston TreeKeepers, District 65, District 202, Northwestern University, Canal Shores, Friends of the Chicago River, Alliance for the Great Lakes and Ridgeville Park District. Each partner organization is hosting at least one cleanup site.

Community members who would like to clean up a park or public space not listed should select the “self-organized park cleanup” option online. This allows volunteers to beautify their neighborhood parks with support from the city. Those submitting their own spot should indicate which park they’d like to volunteer in, as well as how many individuals they expect to join them.

Bags may then be picked up from the Ecology Center on Friday, April 21, between 8:30 a.m. and 5 p.m., or on Saturday, April 22, between 8:30 and 11 a.m.

For more information about the Earth Day and Arbor Day events, call or text 847-448-4311. For convenience, Evanston residents can simply dial 3-1-1.

Image via city of Evanston