Earth Day Clean Up, Beautification Event To Be Held At Greenwich Park

GREENWICH, CT — The Town of Greenwich Parks and Recreation Foundation will host its fourth annual Earth Day clean up and beautification event next month.

The event will take place Saturday, April 18, from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. at Mianus River Park in Greenwich, according to a news release provided by the foundation.

Volunteers are encouraged to meet at the Cognewaugh Street entrance of the park.

According to the release, the annual community initiative "brings together residents, students and local organizations to help preserve and enhance one of the region’s most treasured natural spaces."

Throughout the morning, volunteers will participate in a variety of environmental stewardship projects across the park.

Activities will include planting trees and native species along key areas of the trails, removing invasive winged euonymus species to help restore native habitats, lining trails with stray logs and larger branches to improve trail definition and clearing debris to help maintain the park's natural landscape, according to the foundation.

The parks department will provide a limited number of shovels, hand shears, rakes and garbage bags.

Volunteers are encouraged to bring their own gloves and tools if they have them, according to the foundation.

"This event has become a wonderful Earth Day tradition," Parks and Recreation Director Joe Siciliano said in a news release. "Mianus River Park is a shared natural treasure for both Greenwich and Stamford, and this day brings people from both communities together to care for and enhance this remarkable landscape. It's inspiring to see residents of all ages roll up their sleeves and work side by side to keep the park beautiful."

According to the foundation, Mianus River Park spans 391 contiguous acres, including 110 acres in the Mianus/Upper Cos Cob neighborhood of Greenwich, 187 acres in Stamford and 94 acres owned by the state of Connecticut, making it one of the largest preserved natural areas in lower Fairfield County.

Individuals, families, scout groups and students seeking community service hours are encouraged to participate, according to the foundation.

"Earth Day at Mianus River Park has become a special tradition for our community," Sue Bodson, co-chair of the Town of Greenwich Parks and Recreation Foundation, said in a news release. "Each year it's inspiring to see volunteers of all ages come together to care for this extraordinary natural resource. We are also deeply grateful to our community partners who have supported this event year after year and helped make it such a successful collaboration."