­­For Immediate Release: March 29, 2022

Earth Day was founded on April 22, 1970, when thousands of people came together to demand cleaner air and water. The City of Alexandria and AlexRenew will celebrate Earth Day throughout April with virtual and in-person events, providing information to empower residents to make an impact on the environment and drive change. 

The international theme of Earth Day 2022 is “Invest in Our Planet,” which focuses on the importance of taking action, and what individuals and organizations can do to make a difference.  

During this year’s Earth Day-related events, participants can:  

• Raise funds to help beautify and protect Alexandria’s environment on a two-mile dog walk in Old Town, led by Mayor Justin Wilson, NBC Meteorologist Chuck Bell and Monte Durham of “Say Yes to the Dress Atlanta,” on Saturday, April 2. 
• Clean up litter at All Veterans Park and Windmill Hill Park in conjunction with the Alice Ferguson Foundation’s watershed cleanup on Saturday, April 9. 
• Enjoy a bike ride celebrating the 50th anniversary of the Mount Vernon Trail with the Washington Area Bicyclists Association, Walk/Bike Arlington and East Coast Greenway. Participate in giveaways and a scavenger hunt for kids at this April 16 event. 
• Learn how to live more sustainably by reducing plastic and packaging in a Reduce and Reuse Workshop with the City’s Resource Recovery team on April 21. 
• Visit Ben Brenman Park (4800 Brenman Park Drive) to receive a tree to take home, participate in a kids bike rodeo and check out electric vehicles on April 24. 
• Build your own rain gauge, participate in a kids' game, learn about stormwater management practices you can implement on your property, snap pictures at an interactive selfie station and enter to win a rain barrel during Stormwater Day at Ben Brenman Park on April 30. 

Year-round opportunities for action include working at stream cleanups, participating in the Eco-City Academy and becoming an Eco-City Ambassador, becoming an Energy Master and joining environmental education classes and activities at the Jerome “Buddie” Ford Nature Center (5750 Sanger Ave.). Residents can also attend meetings and review past presentations to the Environmental Policy Commission to learn about the City’s ongoing efforts. 

Visit alexandriava.gov/EarthDay for a full list of events and activities, or for more information about Earth Day.

For inquiries from the news media only, contact Andrea Blackford, Editorial Communications Manager, at andrea.blackford@alexandriava.gov or 703.746.3959.

To request reasonable disability accommodation, contact geralyn.taylor@alexandriava.gov or call 703.746.4084, Virginia Relay 711. 

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This news release is available at alexandriava.gov/go/3494.