In honor of Earth Day, which takes place Tuesday, April 22, many Milwaukee community groups will be hosting cleanups to remove debris and spruce up their neighborhoods.
Here are some opportunities to join in on a cleanup during Earth Week.
The Big Clean MKE
Over 30 organizations will be participating in the Big Clean MKE, an annual citywide beautification effort, according to a press release from Ald. Russell Stamper.
To view all of the cleanups taking place on Earth Day and at later dates, see the planning sheet here. Here are five organizations hosting cleanups:
Metcalfe Park Community Bridges: Tuesday, April 22 and Wednesday, April 23
Metcalfe Park Community Bridges will be working on updating the Black Joy Farm, 2815 W. Wright St., from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Tuesday, April 22 and Wednesday, April 23. On Tuesday, the group will be cleaning and adding new garden infrastructure and then planting and painting on Wednesday. Sign up here. More information here.
Clarke Square Neighborhood Initiative: Tuesday, April 22
Celebrate Earth Day at Clarke Square Park with Clarke Square Neighborhood Initiative and Muskego Way Forward at 10 a.m. on Tuesday, April 22 at 2330 W. Vieau Place. Register here. More information here.
Muskego Way Forward: Saturday, April 26
In addition to the joint cleanup with Clarke Square Neighborhood Initiative, Muskego Way Forward is hosting a cleanup from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. on Saturday, April 26 at Reiske Park, 1640 S. 24th St. More information here.
WestCare Wisconsin Inc.: Tuesday, April 22
A Harambee cleanup with WestCare Wisconsin will take place from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Tuesday, April 22 at two sites: Pete’s Fruit Market, 2323 N. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Drive, and at the corner of 2979 N. Palmer St. More information here.
Southside Organizing Center: Tuesday, April 22
Join the Southside Organizing Center, Keep Greater Milwaukee Beautiful and Your Move MKE for an annual Earth Day cleanup from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. on Tuesday, April 22 at 1107 W. Historic Mitchell St. More information here.
Other cleanup opportunities
Milwaukee Riverkeeper Spring Cleanup: Saturday, April 26
Milwaukee Riverkeeper is hosting its 30th annual cleanup at many locations around Milwaukee and nearby suburbs from 9 a.m. to noon on Saturday, April 26. Registration closes at 11:59 p.m. on Thursday, April 24. More information here.
Urban Ecology Center Earth Week
The Urban Ecology Center will be celebrating Earth Week through community gardening, weeding, a beach cleanup and park cleaning events, as well as many other fun activities. The center locations at Riverside Park, Washington Park and Menomonee Valley also have recurring volunteer opportunities.
First-time volunteers must apply to be an Urban Ecology Center volunteer.
Keep Greater Milwaukee Beautiful Great Milwaukee Cleanup
Groups can register to receive free cleaning materials from Keep Greater Milwaukee Beautiful during the Great Milwaukee Cleanup, now through Oct. 31. Find more cleanups near you on the Keep Greater Milwaukee Beautiful events calendar.
Meredith Melland is the neighborhoods reporter for the Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service and a corps member of Report for America, a national service program that places journalists in local newsrooms to report on under-covered issues and communities. Report for America plays no role in editorial decisions in the NNS newsroom.
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