Earth Day 2008 Events!

This year the actual official Earth Day, April 22nd, falls on a Tuesday, which has led some organizations to plan their Earth Day festivities the weekend before, and some the weekend after. This means that people looking for a way to celebrate Earth Day have more options to choose from. Or better yet - why not celebrate Earth Day for the whole week! Kick things off on Saturday, April 19th by participating in the citywide Earth Day clean-up, and wrap things up the following Sunday, April 27th by helping to remove invasive garlic mustard from the river gorge! Details of each event are below. We hope to see you there!

Earth Day in the city: Minneapolis watershed cleanup
Saturday, April 19, 2008 — 9:30 am-Noon
East 36th Street & West River Parkway, Minneapolis River Gorge

This cleanup is an Earth Day tradition in the Minneapolis River Gorge. People come from throughout the local river corridor neighborhoods and throughout the metro area — through churches, corporations and classes — to contribute to the health and vitality of the Mississippi River Watershed.

We’ll meet at East 36th Street and West River Parkway, an Oak Savanna actively being restored by FMR Gorge Stewards volunteers. Here, you’ll sign in and receive gloves, trash bags, refreshments and directions. Pizza will be provided for volunteers by Parkway Pizza.

This event is part of a city-wide cleanup sponsored by the Minneapolis Parks and Recreation Board and the City of Minneapolis. For alternative site information, call the Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board at 612-230-6484.

No pre-registration required.

Thank you sponsor Parkway Pizza! (4457 42nd Avenue South, 612-729-9090)

Photos courtesy of Peter Kastler.


Garlic Mustard Pull in the Gorge
Sunday, April 27th, 2008 — 1:00-3:00 p.m.
East 35th Street & West River Parkway, Minneapolis River Gorge

Join Friends of the Mississippi River and other volunteers from the Gorge Stewards on Saturday, April 26th to help remove garlic mustard from the river flats and oak savanna in the Longfellow neighborhood. Garlic Mustard is an herbaceous exotic plant that is invading many areas of the River Gorge and out-competing native spring plant species. This extremely invasive plant is very easily identified and can be pulled by hand.

Volunteers will meet at 35th Street and West River Parkway for training in identification and removal of garlic mustard, and then work to remove garlic mustard near the river flats between 34th & 35th Streets and at the oak savanna near 36th Street.

Pre-registration is required. For more information, or to register, please contact Volunteer Coordinator sue rich at 651-222-2193 X14 or by using this contact form.