Cities promote Earth Day, Invest in Our Planet

Cities across the Quad Cities area are hosting a number of events this week to mark Earth Day 2022.

First held on April 22, 1970, Earth Day has become a worldwide environmental awareness promotion involving 1 billion people in more than 193 countries. This year’s official theme is “Invest in Our Planet.”

“Earth Day Extravaganza is one of my favorite events of the year,” said Amanda Randerson, Davenport Parks and Recreation event supervisor. “It celebrates Earth Day, marks the start of our Fejervary Family Fun Day event series, and offers residents an opportunity to help beautify this community favorite space after a long winter.”

Earth Day-themed events in Davenport and elsewhere in the Quad Cities include:

DAVENPORT

Saturday, April 23, noon-3 p.m., Fejervary Learning Center:

Green Thumbers and “volunteer enthusiasts” are asked to join Davenport Parks and Recreation in a guided spring cleanup. Participants should wear long sleeves, long pants, and close-toed shoes. Gloves and tools will be provided. All ages are welcome but children must have adult supervision. No pre-registration required. 

Activities include raking, weeding, clearing small branches and sticks, and general  beautification of the park space. Light refreshments will be available. Every volunteer is given a small thank you gift. 

(If the event is canceled due to inclement weather, notice will be made by 9 a.m. Saturday via Davenport Parks and Recreation’s Facebook and Instagram pages. Visit davenportiowa.com/freefamilyfun to learn more. )

BETTENDORF

Wednesday, April 27, 11:30 a.m.-4 p.m. Register now for the Spring Downtown Bettendorf Cleanup. Opportunities for all ages, but you must be 18+ to clean up the Interstate 74 area. 

Event Information:  

  • 11:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. Volunteers meet on the Bettendorf City Hall Plaza for a free lunch. 
  • 12:30 p.m. Announcement and explanation of cleanup areas. Volunteers will be assigned bags, gloves, vests and litter pickers along with group team/pairs.
  • 1 p.m., cleanup begins. Volunteers will walk along State and Grant streets and side streets; can drive to McManus or Leach Parks; or walk along the Mississippi River Trail. 
  • 4 p.m., cleanup ends: return litter tongs and vests to City Hall Plaza. 

Please wear appropriate footwear for walking and climbing. Wear weather appropriate clothing – pants and long sleeves to protect skin. 

Those interested in collecting data as part of an initiative to reduce marine debris, pollution of the Mississippi River and our waterways, are encouraged to track debris as we clean these areas. Details can be found here. Register here.

RIVERDALE, Iowa 

An event began at 8:45 a.m. Friday, April 22, at Riverdale Heights Elementary School, Bettendorf.

A groundbreaking ceremony was expected to share an Earth Day message and celebrate two grants that will allow schoolchildren in the community to plant native trees.

The City of Riverdale in partnership with Riverdale Heights Elementary School and Quercus Land Stewardship Services, LLC, received the ‘Trees for Kids’ grant from the Iowa Department of Natural Resources. Riverdale also received a “Trees Please!” grant from MidAmerican Energy to to replace trees lost by natural disasters, increase energy efficiency and help make the community a better place to live.

Following the groundbreaking, Riverdale Mayor Anthony Heddlesten invited students to plant trees on the school’s property. A second tree planting was scheduled for 1:30 p.m. at Riverdale City Hall, 110 Manor Drive. 

ROCK ISLAND

The Your Earth Day Celebration will be from 1-3 p.m. Sunday, April 24, at Longview Park. 

This free event, hosted by Rock Island Parks and Recreation, will feature a youth recycled art show, arts and crafts for kids, educational opportunities, healthy snacks, a scavenger hunt, and a park service project. The project involves cleaning up trash and sticks in the park and around the neighborhood, so bring work gloves if you plan to participate.

Preschool through 12th grade students are welcome to join the youth recycled art show. Art projects can be made in any medium as long as they incorporate recycled or waste materials. All entries will win a day pass to Whitewater Junction and grand prizes will be voted on by the community the day of the event. 

To participate in the art show, register for free at Tinyurl.com/YourEarthDay. Once registered, bring your art to Longview Park in Rock Island at 1 p.m. Sunday, April 24. For more information, contact Nikki Carr at (309) 732-7280 or carr.nikki@rigov.org

THE FREIGHTHOUSE

2022 Earth Day Fair – Freight House Farmers Market, 421 West River Drive, Davenport, from 9 a.m.-2 p.m. Saturday, May 7.

The free, family-friendly event on the first weekend the market is open for the season will give the community the opportunity to learn what the Quad Cities area is doing to invest in the planet.

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