Celebrate Earth Day
Earth Day is Saturday, April 22! We’re excited to celebrate and remember ways we can protect the natural resources and green spaces that make our community flourish.
Learn about the Grand Rapids Greening Initiative
Mayor Bliss, the City Forestry Department, and the Friends of Grand Rapids Parks are partnering on the Mayor’s Greening Initiative – a goal set in 2011 to increase the tree canopy cover in Grand Rapids from 34.6% to 40%.
Each year, the Mayor’s Greening Initiative focuses tree plantings in an area of the city that has low tree canopy cover. Typically, the event includes a street tree planting project with volunteers, tree giveaway for private properties, and seedling giveaway for students.
The initiative also includes recognizing a local honoree. Honorees are nominated and recognized by the community for their contributions to the city and neighborhood.
Learn more about the City of Grand Rapids’ Greening Initiative here.
Celebrate Earth Day with our Members
Earth Day is a great opportunity to gather outside and enjoy the great outdoors. Find upcoming events celebrating Earth Day below!
It’s My Park Day: City-Wide Park Clean-Up
Join the Friends of Grand Rapids Parks for the second annual It’s My Park Day: City-wide Park Clean-up in partnership with the West Grand Neighborhood Association’s West Side Clean-up event on April 15th with neighborhood-led volunteer projects at parks throughout Grand Rapids. You’ll be able to sign up to help clean up and ready a park for the summer season! Volunteer alongside more than 200+ people throughout the city.
Earth Day – Every Day!
April 22, 2023
Celebrate Earth awareness the Children’s Garden way at Frederik Meijer Gardens. Activities will include:
• Observe a fiber art demonstration, then weave with recycled fabrics!
• Listen and play along to Earth-Day-themed music with Woodsong.
• Prepare and sow seeds in an eco-friendly planter.
• Learn about the earth with interactive stories.
ArborFest 2023
April 28 and 29, 2023
We’re kicking off our spring tree planting season with ArborFest in partnership with the Mayor’s Greening Initiative. Calling all volunteers for our springtime community-wide tree-planting event! In 2023, we’re going bigger than ever to plant 200 trees and give away 150 more over two days in the Roosevelt Park Neighborhood.
Greening Initiative
April 29, 2023
Each Spring and Fall, Friends And the Grand Rapids Forestry Department rally the community to plant trees! Our goal is to plant 10,000 new trees throughout the city as part of our goal to have a 40% tree canopy. Join us for the annual tree planting event at Gerald R. Ford Middle School hosted by Friends of Grand Rapids Parks and the City Forestry Department.