Community members are invited to participate in the City's annual Arbor Day and Earth Day “Clean up, Evanston!" event on Saturday, April 21, from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m.

In addition to the clean-up activities, the Evanston Ecology Center, 2024 McCormick Blvd., will host free, family-friendly Earth Day festivities and nature play from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. Bike repairs will be available on site, along with a collection bin for Cradles to Crayons. In honor of Evanston’s longstanding history as a Tree City USA, the City will also hold a tree planting at the Ladd Arboretum at 10 a.m. in conjunction with the clean up event at the site.

This year’s event is made possible through partnerships with the Evanston TreeKeepers, District 65, District 202, Northwestern University, Canal Shores, and the Ridgeville Park District.

Community groups and individuals of all ages can sign up to volunteer at any of the designated clean-up sites across the city by visiting volunteerevanston.org or calling/texting 847-448-4311. Each of the above partner organizations will host at least one site, all sites as well as instructions on what activities will take place at those sites are available through Volunteer Evanston.

Volunteers are encouraged to register to meet at any of these locations at 9 a.m. on April 21:

• Ladd Arboretum & Twiggs Park, Ecology Center, 2024 McCormick Blvd.
• James Park, Dodge Ave. at Mulford St. (Fieldhouse)
• Lovelace Park (Fieldhouse), Gross Point. Rd. at Thayer St.
• Lakefront (Greenwood – Clark St.), 1401 Sheridan Pl.
• Ridgeville Park, 908 Seward St.
• Brummel Park, Intersection of Brummel and Elmwood
• Canal Shores (3 sites), Meet at 1030 Central St.
• Chute Middle School, 1400 Oakton Street
• Haven Middle School, 2417 Prairie Avenue
• Nichols Middle School, 800 Greenleaf Street

 If community members would like to clean up a park or public space that is not listed here they are welcome to pick the “Self-organized park clean up” option on Volunteer Evanston. This option allows community members to clean up their neighborhood parks or neighborhood with support from the City. In Volunteer Evanston indicate which park or neighborhood you’d like to clean up and how many will be joining and then pick up gloves and bags from the Ecology Center Wednesday, April 18 – Friday, April 20^th during normal business hours (8:30am – 5:00pm) and Saturday, April 21^st from 8:30am – 10:00am.

 ETHS in partnership with the Kiwanis Club of Evanston will continue its long standing tradition of organizing a community clean up in the area surrounding the high school. High schoolers who are interested in being involved should contact ETHS Community Service Coordinator, Mary Collins at collinsm@eths.k12.il.us, for more information. This event will also take place on Saturday, April 21st from 9-11 am.

 In addition to the City's Community Clean-up event April 21st, volunteers from civic organizations, social clubs, neighborhood associations, individual families, church groups, school groups, and employee groups are encouraged to participate in the City of Evanston Parks, Recreation & Community Services Department's year-round Adopt a Park program. The City is seeking volunteer groups to assist with litter pick-up, preservation, and maintenance of Evanston parks. To learn more, visit cityofevanston.org/adoptapark or send questions to adoptapark@cityofevanston.org.

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