Naperville plans community Earth Week celebration

Naperville will celebrate Earth Week Naperville 2017 beginning with Earth Day Saturday, April 22, and continuing through Saturday, April 29, with special events and programs focused on sustaining and protecting the environment.

Earth Week Naperville is a joint effort among several groups, including the city, Forest Preserve District of DuPage County, Forest Preserve District of Will County, Indian Prairie Unit District 204, Naperville Area Homeowners Confederation, Naperville Convention and Visitors Bureau, Naperville Park District, Naperville Unit District 203, North Central College, The Conservation Foundation, The Morton Arboretum and Three Fires Council of Boy Scouts of America.

In years past, organizations throughout Naperville have independently hosted a variety of Earth Day events for residents. This year, however, Lynnettee Hoole, volunteer manager for Naperville Park District, had the idea to expand the celebration into a weeklong, communitywide Earth Week event.

"We are asking businesses, schools, organizations and individuals to share events and projects they are hosting that highlight their support of the environment," Hoole said.

"We would like Earth Week to become an annual event that is the kickoff to spring and showcases all of the wonderful environmentally-friendly activities that Naperville has to offer."

Special events and volunteer projects are listed on the Earth Week Web page at www.napervilleparks.org/earthweek and so far include the city's annual Arbor Day Tree Sale on Saturday, April 29, as well as a number of litter picking, mulching and storm drain stenciling projects.

Organizations that are hosting special events or proposing new volunteer projects may visit the website to sign up as volunteers or add their event or project.

For more information, contact Hoole at lhoole@napervilleparks.org or (630) 848-3606.