Earth Day Parks and Preserves Celebration and Cleanup

Having collectively been through so much the past two years, it seems that now is an opportunity for us to take all we have learned during these difficult times and go all in to ensure a prosperous and sustainable future for our parks, preserves and planet. Hence, this year's theme, Invest in our Parks, Preserves, Planet.

For over 30 years, Friends of the Parks has coordinated Earth Day clean ups across Chicago as part of our annual Earth Day Celebration and Clean-Up. However, for the past two years, we have had to organize this city-wide event under unprecedented circumstances due to the pandemic. In 2020, we had a fully virtual Earth Day Celebration. Then in 2021, our Earth Day Celebration occurred amidst strict COVID guidelines. As we continue to be vigilant of the ongoing pandemic, current conditions look like they will allow for a more robust Earth Day this year.

In partnership with the Chicago Park District and Forest Preserves of Cook County, we will once again be coordinating clean ups around the city on Sat, April 23, 2022. As usual, we will be supporting Park Advisory Councils (PACs), park partner organizations and other volunteer groups by providing them with gloves and garbage bags as well as an online event sign-up. In addition, we are accepting requests for mulch (woodchips for trees) which we will direct to the Park District. Note, a request for mulch does not guarantee its delivery. Site Captains will be notified after this request's deadline whether or not their site will receive mulch and tools.