Hundreds of volunteers took part in Earth Month events across Sacramento over the past two weekends to invest in community parks, trails and waterways in celebration of Earth Day.
The Climate Action & Sustainability Team organized 10 events that brought together 270 volunteers to plant 41 trees and 310 drought-tolerant plants, spread 75 yards of mulch, and remove more than 5,200 pounds of trash and green waste.
These events covered all City Council districts and were made possible through robust collaboration with Youth, Parks, & Community Enrichment (YPCE), the Department of Utilities, Community Engagement Team, Community Emergency Response Team, Recycling and Solid Waste, and the Department of Community Response.
The events also received support from councilmembers, Park Commissioners, Landscape & Learning crews, and community groups like the Sacramento Tree Foundation and Meadowview Urban Tree Project, who helped promote the events, provided refreshments, and assisted with on-site activities.
“Earth Month is an opportunity to turn awareness into action at the local level,” said the City’s Sustainability Manager Rachel Patten. “These events show the impact residents and partners can have when they work together to improve Sacramento’s parks, waterways and neighborhoods.”
The tree planting efforts were part of the broader Equitable and Resilient Urban Forest project, which is funded by an Urban and Community Forestry grant from the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, in partnership with GreenLatinos. With support from this grant funding, YPCE has planted nearly 500 trees in disadvantaged communities over two planting seasons.
The City’s celebration of Earth Day continues with the Sacramento Earth Day event hosted by the Environmental Council of Sacramento on Sunday, April 26 at Southside Park (700 T St.).
The Climate Action and Sustainability Team, Recycling and Solid Waste Division, and Department of Utilities will have booths with giveaways and tips on how to live more sustainably in Sacramento.
For more information on future environmental events and volunteer opportunities, sign-up for Sustainable Sacramento monthly email updates.
