Help care for Waterloo parks this Earth Day

The City of Waterloo invites community members to take action toward a cleaner and greener Waterloo by organizing a litter cleanup for Earth Day.

Since 2004,  families, friends, neighbours and coworkers in Waterloo have been coming together for a city-wide cleanup of local parks and trails to celebrate Earth Day. Last year, over a thousand people across Waterloo participated in a cleanup and removed 300 bags of litter from city parks and trails.

The community cleanups occur on or around Earth Day and residents can choose to attend a scheduled event or organize their own.

Ways to get involved:

• Join the Waterloo Park cleanup on April 26 from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m., hosted by the Friends of Waterloo Park. E-waste recycling will also be available on-site.
• Organize your own clean-up at a local park. The City will provide gloves, bags and other supplies, along with helping to dispose of the collected litter.
  Register by April 16: www.waterloo.ca/EarthDay
• Check with your neighbourhood association to see if a litter cleanup is planned for a park near you.

“Picking up litter might seem like a small act, but it can have a real impact on local green spaces and wildlife,” said Robin Milne, Director of Parks, Forestry and Cemetery Services, City of Waterloo. “The community cleanups are a great way to get outside, enjoy the warmer weather and put environmental sustainability into action.”

While Earth Day is a great time for litter cleanups, residents are encouraged to care for local parks year-round. Through the Partners in Parks program, residents can sign up to mulch trails, manage invasive plants, or enhance their local park with a little library, pollinator garden or community message board.

When visiting local parks, please do your part to help keep parks clean and welcoming. Dispose of your garbage properly, respect wildlife and leave the park as you found it. If bringing pets, keep them on a leash (unless in a designated dog park) and always pick up after them.

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Media Contact
Shirley Luu
Communications Consultant
Shirley.luu@waterloo.ca