Community-Led Earth Day Celebrations: Neighborhood groups activate across Wilmington’s West Side
Photo by Shakira Hunt
Wilmington, DE: West Side Grows Together (WSGT), the Urban Bike Project of Wilmington, Partnership for the Delaware Estuary (PDE), and the City of Wilmington are excited to announce two events this weekend: Love Your Park Day in support of Wilmington’s Community Cleanup Day and the kickoff of the Open Streets Wilmington annual event series starting on Market Street this year. These events will pack this year’s Earth Day celebrations–held all around the city on Saturday, April 23rd–chock full of family-friendly activities.
Since 1970, Earth Day has been dedicated to investing in both the built and natural environments and ensuring they are healthy spaces for all. Wilmington continues this tradition with dozens of community groups who work together to clean, green, and beautify neighborhoods and parks throughout Wilmington. This year, WSGT will continue that tradition and honor an ongoing commitment to promote healthy environments throughout Wilmington’s West Side neighborhoods. WSGT will host Love Your Park Day cleanups at seven West Side parks in collaboration with Wilmington’s city-wide cleanups held on Saturday, April 23rd. For the second year, the Wilmington Community Cleanup Day and WSGT’s Love Your Park Day & Open Streets programs will coincide – providing residents with an array of Earth Day celebrations and activities to choose from.
Open Streets Wilmington is a collaborative initiative of Urban Bike Project, West Side Grows Together, and the Open Streets Wilmington steering committee. Open Streets Wilmington’s first location this year returns to Market Street in Downtown Wilmington between 4th and 10th Streets, during which the Street will be closed to vehicular traffic and open to pedestrians, cyclists, scooters, skateboards, and more. This special Earth Day event, in partnership with the Partnership for the Delaware Estuary, will also feature plant giveaways, crafts for children, a scavenger hunt, outdoor yoga and fitness classes, free bike rentals, children's activities, and much more. Attendees will have the added opportunity to enjoy the incredible array of Wilmington’s Downtown shops and restaurants.
"It has been truly inspiring to be a part of Open Streets events and to witness how people are able to connect with each other and their communities when they have safe spaces to do so, '' professes Laura Wilburn, Executive Director of the Urban Bike Project of Wilmington. Laura goes on to express, “People get so creative with how they use the street space–they set up picnics. They dance. They create sidewalk chalk art. I am so excited to have the opportunity to partner with the Wilmington Earth Day Celebration and reach many more people with this inspiring event. Open Streets events promote wellness of the mind and body, and we know how connected that is with the wellness of our community's air and water. We look forward to celebrating together the many ways that we can support each other towards healthier communities!"
Open Streets Wilmington locations rotate throughout the City to highlight a different Wilmington neighborhood each month through October. For future Open Streets dates, locations, and activities visit: openstreetswilmington.org.
This Saturday, April 23:
1:30 - 4:30 PM: Open Streets on Market Street between 4th and 10th Streets
Volunteers are encouraged to sign up for the cleanups here and in shifts for Open Streets here.
Community Cleanup Day on the West Side is made possible with the support of the City of Wilmington, Senator Tizzy Lockman, Representative Sherry Dorsey Walker, Councilmember Bregetta Fields, Councilmember Chris Johnson, Be Ready CDC, 4th Street Visionaries, Westside Neighborhood Coalition, Hilltop Civic Association, the Roberto Clemente League, Friends of Cool Spring Park, Friends of Tilton Park, Cool Spring/Tilton Neighborhood Association, and PittPass Development Group, and many volunteers.
Open Streets Wilmington is made possible with the support of the AARP, Urban Bike Project of Wilmington, YMCA of Delaware, University of Delaware Living Lab, Nuestras Raíces Delaware, RD Innovative Planning, The Warehouse, The WRK Group, WILMAPCO, Jefferson Street Center, Partnership for the Delaware Estuary, the City of Wilmington, and individual donors.
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West Side Grows Together is a coalition of residents, businesses, churches, and local leadership in the West Side of Wilmington, Delaware, working together to transform & strengthen their community. Follow West Side Grows Together on the Web, Facebook & Instagram for more information and program updates.