Friends of the Parks and Chicago Park District Hold Annual Earth Day Cleanup
Friends of the Parks and Chicago Park District Hold Annual Earth Day Cleanup
Efforts to Protect City’s Parks Continue to be a Top Priority
The Environmental Justice Movement started in Chicago during the 1970s around the same time as Earth Day, as a way of protecting the environment and poorer communities from pollution. Today, that mission continues through the partnership of the Chicago Park District and Friends of the Parks.
The mission of the 50-year-old nonprofit parks advocacy group is to inspire, equip and mobilize a diverse population to ensure an equitable park system for a healthy Chicago. In recognition of Earth Day, the two divide responsibilities to ensure dozens of city parks will take part in the annual cleanup Saturday, April 26, 2025, from 9 a.m. – noon.
This year marks the 40th anniversary of the Friends of the Parks’ citywide Earth Day cleanup. A record 150 neighborhood parks are taking part in the beloved tradition that is considered the official kickoff of Chicago’s many summer activities in the parks. The cleanup not only freshens up our parks from the winter doldrums, but also builds connections between neighbors and other friends of the parks.
“It’s like organizing 150 different events. The logistics and coordination that it takes to work with the parks, the park supervisors, the site captains and park district all have to come together in sync,” explains Brian Gladstein, executive director of FOTP.
Gladstein who started his new position with FOTP last month says the office has been buzzing with all the trash bags and gloves the staff is delivering to the parks.
“We have to come together as a community to preserve what we have and that includes our amazing park system in Chicago,” says Gladstein. “We know that people care and are in love with our parks and we will continue to do events like this to ensure the longevity of our green spaces.”
FOTP and the Chicago Park District are responsible for the monumental task of recruiting volunteers, identifying sites, distributing equipment and cleaning up the city’s parks. FOTP and local park partners will host the main hub site at the Humboldt Park Boathouse, 1301 North Humboldt Park. In addition to the cleanup, a welcome ceremony with dignitaries will begin at 8:30 a.m. After volunteers finish, they will celebrate with music, food and cultural presentations.
Large gatherings of volunteers are expected at Garfield Park, Douglass Park, River Park and Big Marsh. In addition to providing volunteers with supplies, the park district is making mulch and fibar available at select locations. For more information, please visit www.earthdaychicago.org.
The 2025 corporate sponsors of the Earth Day cleanup are Magid, Bickerdike Redevelopment Corporation and Wells Lamont.
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