Local communities celebrate ecology with clean-up efforts this Saturday
Earth Day was founded as a day of education about environmental issues, and Earth Day 2023 will occur this Saturday, April 22. The day is now a global celebration that's sometimes extended into Earth Week, a full seven days of events focused on green living and confronting the climate crisis. Inspired by the protests of the 1960s, Earth Day began as a “national teach-in on the environment” and took place April 22 to maximize the number of students that could be reached on university campuses.
In 1990, Earth Day went global, with 200 million people in more than 140 nations participating, according to the Earth Day Network (EDN), a nonprofit organization that coordinates Earth Day activities. In 2000, Earth Day focused on clean energy and involved hundreds of millions of people in 184 countries and 5,000 environmental groups, according to EDN. Activities ranged from a traveling, talking drum chain in Gabon, Africa, to a gathering of hundreds of thousands of people at the National Mall in Washington, D.C.
Today, the Earth Day Network collaborates with more than 17,000 partners and organizations in 174 countries. According to EDN, more than 1 billion people are involved in Earth Day activities, making it “the largest secular civic event in the world.”
Local communities will mark Earth Day Saturday with various planned activities.
In Inkster:
Join Friends of the Rouge and The Inkster Task Force at Inkster Colonial Park from 10 a.m. until 1 p.m. on Earth Day, Saturday, April 22, to help clean and open logjams on the Lower Rouge River Water Trail. The Inkster Task Force is on a mission to open safe paddling routes on the Rouge River to create safe and meaningful access for recreation and enjoyment,
Working logjams can be dangerous and volunteers will be working in the river and required to wear waders. This is dirty, wet work, but it is fun and truly rewarding, organizers said. Friends of the Rouge will provide important safety tips for all volunteers. Register at Earth Day Logjam Workday - Inkster Colonial Park
In Northville:
Volunteers will work at Maybury State Park, 49601 Eight Mile Road, Northville from 9 a.m. until noon Saturday, April 22.
Workers can join the park staff and other volunteers from the Friends of Maybury in getting the state park ready for summer. Volunteers should dress appropriately for the weather and wear long pants and closed toe shoes. Organizers recommend bringing a water bottle and work gloves, if possible. Tools and some gloves will be available. For more information about meeting the volunteer group, call the park office, (248) 349-8390.
In Plymouth:
The Artisan Market celebrating Earth Day will take place in Kellogg Park in downtown Plymouth from 1 until 7 p.m.
Among the many exhibitors will be Plymouth Pollinators who will be on hand from 9 a.m. until 3 p.m. on Saturday, April 22 providing information about pollinator habitats and native plants. Swag bags will be available for a small donation.
Organizers suggest biking or walking to the event as parking could become scarce. For more information, email plymouthpollinators@gmail.com
In Romulus:
The Romulus Garden Club will host an ECO Fair at the Romulus Athletic Center, 35765 Northline Road in Romulus from 9 a.m. until 1 p.m. Saturday, April 29, a week after Earth Day.
The event will feature information on recycling along with speakers and other vendors. Expected attendees include members of local garden clubs, South East Michigan Butterfly Association speakers, Michigan State University Master Gardeners, exhibits from the Romulus schools recycling program and various other ECO-friendly vendors.
There will be speakers and presentations at 11 and 11:30 a.m., at noon and at 12:30 p.m. Free activities for all ages are planned along with Eco Story Time with Miss Tee.
There is no admittance fee and there will be door prizes at the event. For more information call (734)634-2812.
The 25th Annual Romulus City-Wide Clean Sweep is also set for Saturday, April 29, a week after Earth Day.
Volunteers will work from 9:30 a.m. until noon to sweep and clean the street throughout the city. The spring clean-up will end at noon at Blue Sky for ice cream and raffles.
Volunteers will meet at the Romulus Athletic Center lobby for assignments, 35765 Northline Road. For more information, call (734) 942-7571.
In Sumpter Township:
The planned clean up of Banotai Park in Sumpter Township has been rescheduled due to predicted rain showers for Saturday, officials announced this week. Sumpter Township residents are being sought to help a belated celebration of Earth Day with a volunteer clean-up of the township park.
Banotai Park is located at 24300 Sherwood Road at the corner of Wear Road. The event was set April 22 but will be rescheduled by the Sumpter Township Parks and Recreation Commission members.
Volunteers are asked to bring tools and an “adventurous spirit” during the future date which will be announced. The township will provide hot dogs, potato chips and bottled water for volunteer workers.
There will also be a plant exchange, organizers said.
Wayne County:
Wayne County Executive Warren C. Evans, and Wayne County Parks have planned an Earth Day Extravaganza from noon until 3 p.m. Saturday, April 22. This family friendly event will take place at Nankin Mills Park, located at 33275 Edward Hines Dr. in Westland.
The event theme this year is environmentally themed video games. There will be a children's Fishville event play area with crafts and games, nature hikes, inflatable and a naturalist led Pokemon Go hike is set for 12:30. The nature trail is not stroller friendly, organizers said and some events are recommended for ages 3 and older.
An environmental magic show is set for 1:30 and a naturalists led nature hike is set for 2:30 p.m.. There will be video game characters on hand and video game costumes are encouraged.
For more information call (734) 261-1990 or visit www.waynecounty.com.
In Westland:
Volunteers at the Westland Historic Village will be celebrating Earth Day at the Village by cleaning up as much of the grounds and buildings as possible.
Some of the projects include, but are not limited to cutting down small trees in order to enlarge the parking area, creating new flower beds and weeding/getting current flower beds and herb garden ready for planting, tearing out a ramp that needs to be replaced, raking leaves and picking up sticks and twigs, cleaning inside several buildings, cleaning gutters and many other tasks, organizers said.
Volunteers are asked to bring yard tools such as rakes, gloves, shovels, clippers, loppers and chainsaws. Yard bags will be provided.
Westland area residents can also celebrate Earth Day beginning at 10 a.m. April 21 at Wildwood Elementary School in Westland.
Free LED lights will be distributed to attendees and the Westland Police Department Ford F-150 truck and other electric vehicles will be on display. Organizers said the event was part of the city commitment to sustainability and information about the latest environmentally-friendly technologies would be available.
In addition, visitors will be able to view the new benches made from recycled plastic from the students at the school.
Recycled plastic was used to create the functional and sustainable pieces of furniture.
The school is located at 500 North Wildwood St.
In another effort to help the environment, the city will host an Electronics Recycling Day on Saturday, April 22, in the parking lot of the Westland Recycling Center, located at 37137 Marquette.
In partnership with Dedicated Recycling Company, Westland is hosting a no cost drop-off day for all Westland residents.
“This is an excellent opportunity for residents to safely and responsibly dispose of their old electronics. Residents dropping off items are able to stay in their cars, as volunteers will unload for them,” officials said.
For a list of acceptable items, visit: www.cityofwestland.com.
