Above / Explore the wonders of every season in natural settings such as May Watts Park. Watch what’s happening this springtime in the great outdoors leading up to education, awareness and healthful choices. Scroll down for presentations at the 2019 Earth Day Fair and other Earth Week events. (PN Photo on Earth Day, April 22, 2019)
The community is invited to celebrate the third annual Earth Week Naperville, taking place this week through April 28, 2019. The weeklong celebration features volunteer opportunities such as litter pickup, restoration projects and tree planting; special events and programs focused on sustaining and protecting the environment as well as good health for all.
Order trees April 24 / City of Naperville’s annual Arbor Day Tree is April 27
The City of Naperville’s annual Arbor Day Tree sale will be held from 8AM to noon on Sat., April 27, at the Public Works Service Center, 180 Fort Hill Dr. A list of available trees and prices is available at http://www.naperville.il.us/arbordaytreesale. At the tree sale, attendees can pick up pre-ordered rain barrels and composters. Orders should be placed by today, April 24, at http://upcycle-products.com/napervilleil.html. Rain barrels and composters can be ordered specifying home delivery as an alternative to pickup.
Free Shredding Event / 8AM to 11AM April 27
Naperville Park District’s Fort Hill Activity Center, 20 Fort Hill Drive, will host a free shredding event from 8AM to 11AM (or until the truck is full) on Saturday, April 27. There is a limit of two boxes per vehicle/household. This event is offered in partnership with the Naperville Police Department.
Earth Day Fair April 27, 2019
The second annual Earth Day Fair will take place at Fort Hill Activity Center from 1PM to 4PM on Saturday, April 27. The free family-friendly event will feature children’s activities, eco-friendly vendors, green living tips, energy-saving information, free native plant seeds and more. Additionally, meet and greet several of our state, local and county elected officials who plan to stop in at the fair between 1 and 2:30PM.
Officials planning to attend include Mayor Steve Chirico, Park Board President Mike Reilly, State Representative Grant Wehrli, State Representative Stephanie Kifowit, State Senator Linda Holmes, State Senator Laura Ellman, Chief of Staff Kim Brondyke from State Representative Stava-Murray’s office, Will County Board Member Mimi Cowan and DuPage Forest Preserve District Commissioner Mary Lou Wehrli.
Attendees are encouraged to bring new or like-new children’s items for Cradles to Crayons, a Chicago-based nonprofit organization that assists children in need.
Exhibitors display ways to experience Earth Day every day
Exhibitors include Citizen Climate Lobby, the City of Naperville Water and Electric utilities, the City of Naperville Department of Public Works Fleet Services, Cradles to Crayons, Experimac, Forest Preserve District of DuPage County, Forest Preserve District of Will County, Fox Valley Electric Auto Association, G.S. Troop 51114, Illinois Solar Energy Association, Just Food Initiative of Fox Valley, Knoch Knolls Nature Center, Naper Settlement, Naperville Community Gardeners, Naperville Park District, Naperville Public Library, Naperville Sustainability Task Force, North Central College, Norwex, Renewal by Andersen, Rose Pest Solutions, The Conservation Foundation/Green Earth Institute, The Resiliency Institute, Three Fires Council, – Boy Scouts of America and Visit Naperville.
Many community sponsors made this free Earth Day Fair possible.
Help reduce waste by donating children’s clothing at Earth Day Fair
Did you know the average American throws out 82 pounds of textile waste per year, most of which ends up in landfills and produces toxic greenhouse gasses? During this year’s Earth Day Fair, Cradles to Crayons Chicago will offer a way to protect the environment while helping a child by recycling items for children. The local nonprofit’s annual Earth Day Collection drive takes place in Naperville from 1-4PM, Sat., April 27. (Eleven other pop-up collection sites will be in Chicago and nearby suburbs) making it easy for families to drop off their donations of new and gently used clothing for children living in low-income situations across the Chicago area.
Most needed items are clothing (sizes newborn to adult medium), sneakers (sizes newborn to adult size 10), rain jackets and boots (sizes newborn to adult medium and size 10), toys (especially ages 0-12 months and 10-12 years, and books (especially ages 0-2 years and 11-12 years).
List of Earth Week Volunteer Projects
Individuals and groups may sign up to help with any of the volunteer projects planned for Earth Week. A list of projects is available at www.napervilleparks.org. To propose an additional volunteer project, send an email to lhoole@napervilleparks.org or to EarthWeekNpvl@napervilleparks.org.
Earth Week Naperville 2019 is a joint effort among several groups, including: Accenture, the City of Naperville, Forest Preserve District of DuPage County, Forest Preserve District of Will County, Naperville Park District, Naperville School District 203, North Central College, The Conservation Foundation, The Resiliency Institute, Three Fires Council – Boy Scouts of America, and Visit Naperville.
Edward-Elmhurst Medication ‘Take-Back’ kiosk is open 24/7/365
The 17th annual National Prescription Drug Take Back Day will be held from 10AM to 2PM Sat., April 27, at law enforcement agencies throughout the country. Since 2014, depository boxes to “take back” medication have been available around the clock at the Naperville Police Department as well as every Naperville Fire Station.
Note also that Edward-Elmhurst Health has a Medication Take-Back program at its locations in Naperville and Elmhurst, providing accessible, safe places for the public to dispose of dangerous medications 24/7, 365 days a year.
In Naperville, the safe medication disposal kiosk at Edward Hospital is located near the South Lobby (in the walkway between the South parking garage and South Lobby off of Osler Dr.), 801 S. Washington St.
Bring unwanted, unused or expired controlled medications to one of the locations and drop them in the kiosk – just like putting a letter in a mailbox.
Accepted items: unused or expired controlled medications.
Restricted Items: needles/syringes, liquids, aerosols, inhalers, thermometers, illegal drugs.
Recycle every day / Drop recyclables off Wednesdays and Saturdays
For more about recycling and waste management in Naperville, visit www.naperville.il.us.
For more information about Earth Week, visit Earth Week Naperville.
Sue Omanson from the Naperville Park District contributed to this post.
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