Groundwork Jacksonville’s Green Team Youth Corps will host the Second Annual Earth Day: A Celebration of Stewardship, presented by the Arbor Day Foundation and TD Bank, on Saturday, April 23, from 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. The free community event will take place along the S-Line Biodiversity Corridor of the Emerald Trail at 2335 N. Davis Street. Free parking is available at Christ Tabernacle Missionary Baptist Church.

Guests will receive a passport to participate in various eco-friendly activity stations which earns them free lunch sponsored by Jinko Solar (U.S.) Industries Inc., and the chance to win dozens of prizes. Festivities include music, a Kids’ Zone with bounce house sponsored by Jacksonville Transportation Authority (JTA), and interesting hands-on demonstrations about native landscaping, soil and water conservation, rain barrels, composting, sustainable business, healthy living, local wildlife, living shorelines and more.

Earth Day was founded in 1970 as a day of education about environmental issues and is now a global celebration. The purpose of the local event is to increase environmental awareness while providing an opportunity for people from all areas of town to connect outdoors and celebrate the planet. 

The event also will commemorate National Celebrate Trails Day. Hosted on the fourth Saturday of April, Celebrate Trails Day (formerly Opening Day for Trails) is an annual spring celebration of America’s trails. Started by Rails-to-Trails Conservancy in 2013, the celebration encourages people across the country to get outside and enjoy the nation’s exceptional trails and trail systems.

Participating companies and nonprofit organizations include: Jinko Solar (U.S.) Industries Inc.; Jacksonville Transportation Authority (JTA); Sierra Club of NE Florida; UF Health Jacksonville; JTC Running; Momentum Solar; American Heart Association; Apple Rabbit Compost; Center for Children’s Rights (CCR); Duval Soil and Water Conservation District; Feeding Northeast Florida; IXIA Chapter of the Florida Native Plant Society; 

Groundwork Jacksonville Green Team Youth Corps; Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens WILD Program; Museum of Science & History (MOSH);  Native Fresh; North Florida Green Chamber of Commerce; St. Johns Riverkeeper; UF/City of Jacksonville Florida Friendly Landscaping; University of North Florida and UNF FIE College Reach Out Program. Community organizations are still welcome to participate by contacting Shanell Davis-Bryant, Groundwork Jacksonville Program Manager at Shanell@GroundworkJacksonville.org.