Above / During Tuesday’s City Council meeting, Councilman Kevin Coyne read a Mayor’s Proclamation, recognizing a number of events planned for Earth Week 2018.
The City of Naperville will recognize its 2nd Annual Earth Week April 21-28, 2018.
During Tuesday’s City Council meeting, a Mayor’s proclamation was read by City Councilman Kevin Coyne, recognizing a number of events planned throughout the week featuring volunteer opportunities, special events and programs focused on sustaining and protecting the environment. New exhibitors, events and volunteer projects have been added.
From 8AM to Noon on Saturday, April 21, Fort Hill Activity Center will host a free shredding event for the community at 20 Fort Hill Drive.
Beyond Earth Week, Plant Sale at McDonald Farm on May 12
Native plant pre-orders are due by 11:59PM on Sunday, April 22, for The Conservation Foundation’s 2018 Native Plant Sale. Take this afternoon to think about adding beautiful, good-for-nature native plants to your landscape. Place an order with The Conservation Foundation’s 2018 Native Plant Sale in partnership with Natural Communities Native Plants before midnight!
Earth Day Fair
From 12 to 4PM on Sunday, April 22, Fort Hill Activity Center will hold an Earth Day Fair. The free family-friendly event will feature children’s activities, eco-friendly vendors, green living tips, energy-saving information, an LED light bulb giveaway, environmental education and more. One of the nonprofit groups at the Fair, Cradles to Crayons, asks Earth Day Fair attendees to bring new or gently used clothing and toys to help them serve families in homeless or low-income situations.
Many community sponsors have partnered to create this week of free events.
For instance, The Resiliency Institute is partnering with the City of Naperville and the Naperville Park District to plant two perennial, edible fruit tree guild gardens they are donating as part of their Growing Food Security program. The gardens will also serve as sustainable landscaping demonstrations for residents. One garden will be planted from 3:30 to 5:30PM Thursday, April 26, at the Park District’s Ron Ory Community Garden Plots, 811 S. West St.
Naperville’s Pollination Station
The second garden will be planted from 10AM to noon Saturday, April 28, at the Naperville Municipal Center, 400 S. Eagle St. Volunteers are encouraged to help with planting and have fun while learning about the growing method, pollinator, environmental and community benefits of the gardens at both events. For more information, contact jodi@theresiliencyinstitute.net.
Above / An informative sign on the fence by the Naperville Municipal Center marks the location of the Pollination Station Garden. Plant milkweed, attract Monarchs.
Started in 2017, Mayor Steve Chirico as well as representatives from The Conservation Foundation, Naperville Garden Club and the Three Fires Council, Boy Scouts of America participated in a ceremony dedicating the City of Naperville’s first environmentally-friendly Native Planting Pollination Station Garden to officially kick-off the first-ever Earth Week Naperville event.
The garden is located on the east side of the Municipal Center, 400 S. Eagle Street, above the east entrance (Webster Street) to the lower level of the Municipal Center parking deck.
Arbor Day Tree Sale is April 28
In addition, Naperville again will host its annual Arbor Day Tree sale when hundreds of container grown trees will be available. The sale will be from 8AM to noon on Sat., April 28, at the Public Works Service Center, 180 Fort Hill Drive at Jefferson Avenue.
Payment accepted is by cash or checks payable to the City of Naperville. Click here for a PDF of the tree list.
Did you know? Naperville has been named a Tree City USA by the Arbor Day Foundation for 28 consecutive years thanks to its work to develop a thriving urban forest. This Tree City joins more than 3,400 communities that are recognized with the distinction throughout the nation.
Discover Knoch Knolls Park
The Naperville Park Distict has planned a special Earth Week opportunity at Knoch Knolls Park, too. Visitors can explore the new segment of the DuPage River Trail, which leads to the confluence of the East and West Branches of the DuPage River at Knoch Knolls Park. The trail, called Segment 5, was installed in collaboration with the Forest Preserve District of Will County in fall 2016. Enjoy the beauty of the Virginia Bluebells ready to bloom in the woodlands along the trail (south of the river) and in the Lower Grove picnic area (north of the river).
Most Earth Week activities take place between 8AM and 7PM the week of April 21-28. Times vary for each project or event.
Earth Week activities will take place in the Naperville area in a variety of locations including Naperville Park District parks, DuPage Forest Preserve District preserves, Will County Forest Preserve District preserves, The Conservation Foundation’s McDonald Farm, North Central College and the City of Naperville.
According the folks planning the events, “Earth Week is an opportunity for the entire community to work together to benefit our environment, learn more about what different organizations are doing, and be inspired to continue environmental stewardship for the rest of the year.”
Enjoy the great outdoors, mindful to appreciate and support a healthy environment, and everything that nature offers every day! Just let the wildlife be wild.
