Today is Earth Day, and cities all over are gearing up for green celebrations and local cleanup events, including Milwaukee. Because it is our civic duty to keep our environment clean and beautiful, all Milwaukee residents should make an appearance (or two) at these great events happening today and in the near future.

Rock the Green — Tuesday, April 22

Join Rock the Green as Milwaukee’s third annual Earth Day Celebration on Tuesday, April 22, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at The City Center (735 N. Water St.). Mayor Barrett and others will deliver important information on environmental plans. Educational booths will be present advocating environmentally friendly actions and speaking on zero-waste efforts like waste reclamation stations and compostables like serving ware. Some organizations featured at the event include ReFresh Milwaukee, Me2, Rock the Green, Waste Management, the Milwaukee Department of Public Works and many more. In addition, Milwaukee-based sister duo Vic and Gab will play some tunes and local food trucks like Simmer Milwaukee, The Fast Foodie, Hard Wood Café and Urban Caveman will provide the grub.

Earth Day Project at Washington Park — Saturday, April 26

To keep Washington Park beautiful, the Student Conservation Association will be conducting conservation service projects at the Urban Ecology Center (1859 N. 40th St.) on Saturday, April 26, from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Participants will be assigned to a cleanup crew, and are expected to bring closed-toe boots, long pants and a reusable water bottle. Be ready to get your hands in the dirt, and in return, SCA will provide lunch for the hard work. This event is only open to students who have applied for the SCA summer community program in Milwaukee. If interested, RSVP to August M. Ball, Program Manager, at august@thesca.org or call 414.322.8482.

Miller Park cleanup — Saturday, April 26

Drawing a crowd of more than 200 volunteers, this Earth Day cleanup is a major environmental restoration for the trails near the Milwaukee Brewers’ home field. As a collaborative effort between Milwaukee Riverkeeper, Keep Greater Milwaukee Beautiful and Menomonee Valley Partners, this event enacts positive change on the river and demonstrates a clear vision for the future. Past events have had great success making a real difference along the trail. Milwaukee residents are encouraged to meet at the Gantner Lot just east of the stadium off of Canal Street at 9 a.m. Cleanup efforts will run until noon. Volunteers are asked to contact Larri Sue Jacquart at Isjacquart@gmail.com. For more information, contact Melissa Cook at melissa.cook@wisconsin.gov or 414.263.8559. Residents looking for other cleanup options closer to their residencies can check out this poster for more information on volunteering. For further details on making a difference in your neighborhood, contact fwsp.org or call 608.264.8994.

Riverworks Center cleanup — Saturday, April 26

This weekend cleanup will offer Milwaukee’s volunteers the opportunity to keep their environment clean and participate a neighborhood-wide trash pick-up. The event runs from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. on April 26. Come beautify streets, alleyways, neighborhood parks and community gardens. Please contact Janice at janc@riverworksmke.org with questions or more information.