April 20, 2013, Saturday - 2013 Earth Day Clean Up (POSTPONED DUE TO SNOW!)

* * * NOTE * * * * 4/19/2012 UPDATE:

The 2013 Earth Day Clean-Up Event, scheduled for Saturday, April 20, has been postponed due to substantial snowfall.

Individual park cleanups will take place throughout the coming weeks. Information regarding the makeup cleanup events can be found on the MPRB website http://links.govdelivery.com/track?type=click&enid=ZWFzPTEmbWFpbGluZ2lkPTIwMTMwNDE5LjE3OTQxNzIxJm1lc3NhZ2VpZD1NREItUFJELUJVTC0yMDEzMDQxOS4xNzk0MTcyMSZkYXRhYmFzZWlkPTEwMDEmc2VyaWFsPTE3NTIzMzkwJmVtYWlsaWQ9a2ltQG1pbGxjaXR5bWVkaWEub3JnJnVzZXJpZD1raW1AbWlsbGNpdHltZWRpYS5vcmcmZmw9JmV4dHJhPU11bHRpdmFyaWF0ZUlkPSYmJg==&&&100&&&http://www.minneapolisearthday.com/.

* * * NOTE * * * * 4/18/2012 UPDATE:

The 2013 Earth Day Clean-Up is still scheduled for Saturday, April 20, 2013 from 9:30am – 12:00pm. In the case of inclement weather, a final event decision will be made by 10am on Friday, April 19th. Updates will be made to the Earth Day Clean-Up webpage and the Park Board's Facebook and Twitter. If the city-wide event is postponed, make-up cleanup dates for various Minneapolis locations will be announced on the MPRB website.

* * * * * *

Time: 9:30am - Noon

Locations: This event is part of a citywide cleanup, with many different cleanup sites and exhibits, and is sponsored by the Minneapolis Parks and Recreation Board and the City of Minneapolis.

Last year, nearly 1,500 volunteers braved the cold weather on Saturday, April 16, at 40 clean up sites throughout the city, removing more than 10,000 pounds of litter from our neighborhoods and watersheds.

A collaborative effort between the Minneapolis Park & Recreation Board (MPRB) and City of Minneapolis Solid Waste and Recycling, the Minneapolis Earth Day Watershed Clean Up was initiated in 1995 to draw attention to the water quality improvement needs of Minneapolis’ lakes and the effects that individual actions have on urban water quality.

The goal of Earth Day is to provide a volunteer experience and environmental education to Minneapolis residents and park users. This annual event involves cleaning major watersheds and water bodies in the City of Minneapolis including: the Chain of Lakes, Lake Nokomis, Lake Hiawatha, Powderhorn Lake, Diamond Lake, Shingle Creek, Minnehaha Creek, Bassett’s Creek and the Mississippi River.

Environmental Education is a key part of the Clean Up. Onsite programs offer volunteers the opportunity to learn about various issues affecting our environment and community today. The programs are designed for individuals of all ages. Past programs included:

- River/Stream water testing presentations
- Stream erosion/pollution presentations
- Recycled art programs for youth
- Birdhouse building
- Wildlife effects of pollution
-Water-cycle education games