EARTH DAY PARKS AND PRESERVES
CELEBRATION AND CLEAN-UP
SATURDAY, APRIL 24, 2021
"HOPE SPRINGS ETERNAL"
Earth Day 2021 is the 37th year that Friends of the Parks has coordinated Earth Day clean-ups across parks in Chicago and the 51st global anniversary. Like last year, Earth Day will look different due to COVID-19, but this year we are not limited to a Digital Earth Day approach as we were last year.
With safety as a top priority, and in accordance with Chicago Park District, Forest Preserves of Cook County, and Friends of the Parks requirements and capacities, we will be formally hosting fewer clean-ups than previous years and instead focusing on a small number of hub sites. However, we will support a limited number of Park Advisory Councils (PACs) and Park Partner Organizations in different ways, including with some supplies as needed and available, for individual park clean-ups.
The Chicago Parks District is in the process of creating volunteer waivers that can be signed electronically. We are waiting for the waivers to be completed before we can open volunteer registration.
The current Covid restrictions limit clean-ups to a max of 100 volunteers. These restrictions are subject to change at any time.
Friends of the Parks' historic role in Chicago’s Earth Day Celebration and Clean-up* along with many partners will largely be focused on supporting a few hub sites this year.
You can sign up for a socially distant clean-up at Garfield Park, Humboldt Park, Palmer Park, Riis Park, Montrose Beach Dunes, Grant Park, A. Montgomery Ward Park, and Beaubien Woods.
Garfield Park (100 Central Park Ave, Chicago, IL, 60624)
Garfield Park is having clean-ups on April 17 and April 24.
These clean-up plans are still being finalized. If you are interested in participating in one or both of these clean-ups, please register at the link below and you will receive follow up information.
Sign up for more information about the Garfield Park clean-ups here
Humboldt Park (1400 N. Humboldt Dr., Chicago, IL, 60622)
Humboldt Park has organized their clean-up with community volunteers.
If more volunteers are needed, registration will open here.
Palmer Park (201 E. 111th St., Chicago, IL 60628)
The Palmer Park clean-up will take place from 10am - 1pm. This clean-up is also collecting and distributing air and water filters to communities shouldering the burden of pollution in Chicago.
Register for the Palmer Park clean-up here
Riis Park (6100 W Fullerton Ave, Chicago, IL 60639)
The Riis Park clean-up will take place from 10am - 12pm.
Register for the Riis Park clean-up here
Montrose Beach Dunes (900 W Montrose Harbor Dr., Chicago, IL, 60640)
The Montrose Beach Dune clean-up will take place from 9am – 12pm. Meet at the sidewalk opposite the beach handicap parking lot at Montrose Beach. This is just east of the Montrose Beach House.
Register for the Montrose Beach Dunes clean-up here
Grant Park (Columbus Dr, Chicago, IL, 60601)
The Grant Park clean-up will take place from 10am – 12pm.
Register for the Grant Park clean-up here
A. Montgomery Ward Park (630 N Kingsbury St, Chicago, IL 60654)
A. Montgomery Ward Park has organized their clean-up with community volunteers.
If more volunteers are needed, registration will open here.
Horner Park (2741 W Montrose Ave, Chicago, IL 60618)
The Horner Park clean-up will take place from 9am - 11am.
Register for the Horner Park clean-up here
Beaubien Woods (Beaubien Woods, South Ellis Avenue, Chicago, IL, 60633)
The Beaubien Woods clean-up will take place from 10am – 1pm.
Register for the Beaubien Woods clean-up here
Other stewardship opportunities at various Forest Preserve sites will take place throughout the entire week. You can find more information about these events here: https://fpdcc.com/celebrate-earth-day-with-the-forest-preserves/
We are also handling requests from Park Advisory Councils on a case-by-case basis.
If you are a member of a Park Advisory Council (PAC) or Park Partner Organization and you wish to host a clean-up at your park IN COORDINATION WITH FRIENDS OF THE PARKS as part of our annual Earth Day Clean-up and Celebration, please contact Christopher Lempa, our Park Activation Coordinator, at lempac@fotp.org or 312-857-2757 ext. 1. If you are seeking support from Friends of the Parks for the Saturday, April 24, Earth Day Celebration and Clean-up, the deadline to sign up is April 16.
If there is not a formally organized clean-up at your park with support from the Chicago Park District and/or Friends of the Parks and you wish to clean it up with your own equipment, you can do so if you sign a Chicago Park District volunteer waiver. You may also find it useful to contact the park supervisor. You can find the waiver here, and you can find the park supervisor here.
*All of this will take place within strict COVID-19 social distancing guidelines, which includes a 100-person limit. For this reason, some sites are scheduling volunteers in shifts. Please note that mulching will not be a part of this year’s options as the Chicago Park District will not be providing or coordinating distribution of mulch or tools. This year, there will NOT be a culminating fair at Humboldt Park.
If there is not a formally organized clean-up at your park with support from the Chicago Park District and/or Friends of the Parks and you wish to clean it up with your own equipment, you can do so if you sign a Chicago Park District volunteer waiver. You may also find it useful to contact the park supervisor. You can find the waiver here, and you can find the park supervisor here.
*All of this will take place within strict COVID-19 social distancing guidelines, which includes a 100-person limit. For this reason, some sites are scheduling volunteers in shifts. Please note that mulching will not be a part of this year’s options as the Chicago Park District will not be providing or coordinating distribution of mulch or tools. This year, there will NOT be a culminating fair at Humboldt Park.
We wish to thank our partners the Chicago Park District and the Cook County Forest Preserves, as well as our sponsors Magid Glove and Safety, Wells Lamont Gloves, and Target for their help in making the 2021 Earth Day Parks and Preserves Clean-Up possible.
