Residents have plenty of opportunities to beautify their Milwaukee neighborhoods on Earth Day Wednesday and throughout the spring.
Here are some events to join in picking up debris and other trash at community cleanups this month.
Big Clean MKE
The Big Clean MKE, an annual citywide beautification effort, will return this year. Riverworks Development Corp., Near West Side Partners and other groups will be participating.
Earth Day Cleanup: Wednesday, April 22
Muskego Way Forward and VIA Community Development Corp., in collaboration with Big Clean MKE and Keep Greater Milwaukee Beautiful, are hosting a cleanup in the Muskego Way and Clarke Square neighborhoods from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Wednesday, April 22, starting from Nutrición & Bienestar, 1734 W. Greenfield Ave. There will also be another cleanup with local businesses from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Saturday, April 25 at Carniceria Vargas, 1709 S. Muskego Ave. Sign up to volunteer or donate here. More information here.
MKE Harambee Clean Up: Wednesday, April 22
The 9th annual MKE Harambee Clean Up with WestCare Wisconsin, Bader Philanthropies and Big Clean MKE will take place from 11:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Wednesday, April 22 at Pete’s Fruit Market, 2323 N. Martin Luther King Drive. You can register by texting CLEANUP to 414-250-8164, calling 414-662-4254, or via email at harambeecleanup@westcare.com. More information here.
Safe & Sound Earth Day Cleanup: Wednesday, April 22
From noon to 2 p.m. on Wednesday, April 22 at Blatz Pavilion, 1301 W. Hampton Ave., Safe & Sound will be working together with community members to pick up litter in green spaces. Materials and snacks will be provided. More information here.
Washington Park Big Clean Series: Multiple dates
Rooted & Rising Washington Park is collaborating with community partners, including Big Clean MKE, to host 10 clean-up events in the Washington Park neighborhood throughout the spring and summer. April events include cleanups at 31st & Galena Park, 1640 N. 31st St., 2:30-4:30 p.m. on Wednesday, April 22 and at North 43rd and West Vliet streets from 5-7 p.m. on April 24. Registration is not required but encouraged. Email jessie.reese@rootedandrisingwp.org with questions. More information here.
Metcalfe Park Big Clean and Walking Audit: Saturday, April 25
Metcalfe Park Community Bridges and the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel will participate in the Big Clean MKE from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., starting at Metcalfe Park Rising, 3401 W. Center St. Participants can assess the neighborhood’s trees, sidewalks, illegal dumping and more as part of a walk audit, with training that starts at 9 a.m. More information here.
Milwaukee Riverkeeper Spring Cleanup: Saturday, April 25
Milwaukee Riverkeeper is bringing back its annual Spring cleanup at locations near waterways in Milwaukee and nearby suburbs from 9 a.m. to noon on Saturday, April 25. Locations include Jackson Park, Havenwoods State Forest, Lincoln Creek, Menomonee Valley Community Park and many more. Registration is required and ends at midnight on April 23 (or in-person on the day). Afterward, participate in the Rock the Green Earth Day celebration from noon to 3 p.m. at the Harley-Davidson Museum’s Motorcycle Plaza and Founder’s Terrace, 400 W. Canal St. More information here.
McGovern Park Block Watch Community Clean-Up: Saturday, April 25
The Havenwoods Neighborhood Partnership and McGovern Park Block Watch are hosting a cleanup from 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at McGovern Park Senior Center, 4500 W. Custer Ave. To register, contact jetaun@havenwoods.org or 414-431-2271.
Urban Ecology Center Earth Week: April 20-April 25
The Urban Ecology Center will be celebrating Earth Week from April 20 to April 25 with community weeding and cleanup events, as well as other activities. The center branches at Riverside Park, Washington Park and Menomonee Valley also have recurring volunteer opportunities.
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 scheduled cleanups on the Keep Greater Milwaukee Beautiful events calendar.
NID 9 and Redemption Evangelical Lutheran Church Cleanup: Saturday, May 9
Havenwoods Neighborhood Improvement District 9, Lighthouse Youth Center and Redemption Evangelical Lutheran Church will be hosting a community cleanup from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Saturday, May 9 at the Redemption Evangelical Lutheran Church parking lot, 5641 N. 68th St. Register online by May 2 to receive a free lunch. More information here.
HAND of Norville Community Cleanup: Saturday, May 16
Meet at a community garden at 4774 N. 29th St. for a community cleanup in the Garden Homes neighborhood with HAND of Norville from 2 to 4 p.m. on Saturday, May 16. Supplies will be provided. Register online by May 9 to receive a free lunch. More information here.
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.
Jonathan Aguilar is a visual journalist at Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service who is supported through a partnership between CatchLight Local and Report for America.
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