City of Wilmington, Delaware

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City of Wilmington and the Delaware Estuary Celebrate Earth Day/Arbor Day Virtually Again This Year

April 12, 2021

Series of online events planned from April 19 through 23, 2021

Wilmington Mayor Mike Purzycki, Public Works Commissioner Kelly Williams, and Kathy Klein, Executive Director of the Partnership for the Delaware Estuary (PDE), invite you to attend the 16th annual Wilmington Earth Day and Arbor Day celebration, which will be marked with a series of online events taking place from Monday, April 19 to Friday, April 23, 2021.  The celebration, traditionally the largest of its kind in Delaware, will once again be virtual due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. The official dates for Earth Day and Arbor Day are April 22 and April 30, respectively.

Wilmington’s Earth and Arbor Day Celebration is funded by and planned in coordination with the City of Wilmington’s Department of Public Works and the Partnership for the Delaware Estuary. The goal of this annual celebration is to educate the public about the importance of trees, native plants, drinkable water and swimmable rivers, and the impact that the environment has on our everyday lives.  Each day attendees will follow an educational, Earth-friendly theme, such as gardening, transportation, and water.  There will be lots to see and do, from crafts and scavenger hunts to bicycle safety tips and a youth panel at 6 p.m. on Thursday, April 22. To learn more, go to www.delawareestuary.org/earthandarbor/ [delawareestuary.org].

“Concern for our wonderful yet increasingly fragile natural environment is something that we all share,” said Mayor Purzycki, “and this past year serves as a stark warning of what can result when nature’s delicate balance is disturbed. We come together each year to celebrate Earth Day and Arbor Day — a valuable reminder that it’s in our mutual best interest to properly care for and protect the Earth so that it – and we – can look forward to a long, healthy future. As we gather virtually on this Earth Day 2021 out of an abundance of caution, let us reflect on how our common home can and should unite us behind the goal of being the best stewards we can be. Please stay safe, and I look forward to seeing everyone in person again this time next year.”

“As spring comes into full bloom, we are reminded of Earth’s beauty and how much we need to protect it and its ecosystems. We have worked with the City of Wilmington on the annual Earth and Arbor Day celebration for years, and we are pleased to continue that tradition this year online. We encourage you to take part in our ‘Try It’ activities – plant some flowers, ride your bike to work, take a water droplet’s journey through our choose-your-own adventure-style story, and watch our online youth panel discuss environmental issues on Earth Day. There are so many little things that each one of us can do to make our waters cleaner, habitats healthier, and communities stronger.”

The Partnership for the Delaware Estuary (PDE) is a nonprofit organization that brings together people, businesses, and governments to restore and protect the Delaware River and Bay.  From its headquarters in Wilmington, PDE focuses programs and scientific research on the environment affecting the Estuary — from Trenton to Cape May, New Jersey and Lewes, Delaware.  PDE encourages collaboration among the Estuary’s many stakeholders and seeks practical solutions to help restore the natural vitality of the Delaware River and Bay on which plants, wildlife, people, and businesses rely.