In our Office, we don’t just celebrate Earth Day, but Earth Month! There is so much to celebrate this April and ways we can give back to the Earth. Below you can find a list of eco-friendly events happening across the Chicagoland area that you can participate in. While most of these events are free, some do require pre-registration and may have a limited number of spots. At the top of the page, I especially want to highlight several events that my office is co-hosting, and down below, you can find information for all the events happening in the 12th District.
Our Free Community Bike Tuneup will be held on April 27th in Pulaski Park!
Join elected officials, the Recyclery, Active Transportation Alliance, Bike Lane Uprising, and the Chicago Transit Authority for a Community Bike Tuneup.
From 10 am – 1 pm, engineers from the Recyclery will be at Pulaski Park working one-on-one to tune up bikes. Walk-ins will be accepted for a bike tune up, but appointments are encouraged at https://bit.ly/2024BikeTuneUp.
Attendees are also encouraged to bring extra bike or bike parts to donate to the Recyclery’s Freecyclery Program, which provides refurbished bikes to those with limited means.
We will also have the CTA on-site providing demonstrations on how to load their bus bike racks. And of course, we’ll have lots of fun eco-friendly giveaways.
Come join the Cleanup Club and District 12 Commissioner Bridget Degnen to bond over the joys of removing trash from our local community! We’ll be covering a large section of Ravenswood Ave in Lakeview and Ravenswood.
Date: Sunday, April 14th
Time: 10:00 AM – 12:00 PM
Location: Corner of Ravenswood Ave & Irving Park Rd (Southeast corner on the east side of the tracks). We will have groups going both north and south, in an attempt to cover everything from Montrose to Addison.
Social Outing: Optional meetup before at Ritual Coffeehouse (1821 W Irving Park Rd) from 9 -10 AM for some coffee, pastries and chit chat!
Citizens Utility Board will be hosting a workshop all about going solar. The discussion will include how solar panels work on with your home and the grid, what incentives there are from the state and federal government, and other solar programs available to homeowners and renters in the area.
Date: Wednesday, 4/10/2024
Time: 6pm – 7pm
Location: Jefferson Park Memorial Fieldhouse
4822 N Long Ave, Chicago, IL 60630
Click here to RSVP (encouraged but not required)
Join us for a free community paper shredding event on Saturday, April 13th at 5333 N Western Ave. from 11am – 2pm or until trucks are full. Neighbors are encouraged to bring donations for new and old neighbors in need. When thinking about what to donate, please keep in mind if you wouldn’t give it to a friend, we shouldn’t give it to our neighbors. Please donate new and/or gently used items!
Accepted Items:
Footwear: Kid and Adult new shoes
Food: Rice, soy sauce, cooking oil, canned meats
Baby items: Strollers, Diapers size 3+, Baby wipes
Hygiene: Bars of soap, shampoo, body wash, and toothpaste
All Upcoming Events
Monday, April 1st
Close the Loop Waste Prevention Webinar
Let’s face it. No matter how good we are at reducing waste, there will always be a little something left, whether it’s a banana peel or spent coffee grounds. So how can we turn all this into a resource? Join us for an informative discussion on what food waste generators can do to sustainably process their waste via on- and off-site composting, biodigesters, anaerobic digesters, and the like. Register using the link above.
Host: Illinois Food Scrap and Composting Coalition
Date 4/1/2024
Location: Online
Time: 1pm-3pm
Friday, April 5th
Learn the basics of composting and everything you’ll need to get started, including three methods you can set in motion yourself. Whether you have a lot of land, a small yard, or just a little bit of room under your kitchen sink. Register using the link above.
Host: Illinois Food Scrap and Composting Coalition
Date: 4/5/2024
Location: Online
Time: 1pm-2pm
Monday, April 8th-Thursday, April 11th
Free Admission Days at the Chicago Botanic Garden
The Chicago Botanic Garden’s free admission days are April 8th-11th. Pre-registration is required with the link above.
Host: Chicago Botanic Garden
Dates: 4/8-4/11
Location: 1000 Lake Cook Rd, Glencoe, IL 60022
Wednesday, April 3rd
Chicago Zoning and Environmental Protection Joint Committee
The Chicago Zoning and Environmental Protection Joint Committee will be discussing the Clean and Affordable Buildings Ordinance (CABO), which would set an indoor emissions standard in newly built commercial and residential buildings/homes and major building additions. Members of the public can attend to learn more.
Host: Chicago City Council
Date: 4/3/2024
Location: 121 N La Salle St, Chicago, IL 60602
Time: 10am – 11:30am
Saturday, April 6th
Seed Swap with The Eco Flamingo
The Eco Flamingo will be hosting a seed swap at their sustainability center, directly next door to their storefront
Host: The Eco Flamingo
Date: 4/6/2024
Location: The Eco Farm Stand, 4756 N Rockwell, Chicago, IL 60625
Time: 1:30pm – 3:30pm
Bring items that you no longer need to donate or dispose of properly. Items being collected include books, records, glasses, musical instruments, adult and children’s bikes, bike parts and accessories, electronics, and prescription drugs. You can also take part in a volunteer cleanup to help keep the Forest Preserves of Cook County beautiful.
Host: Forest Preserves of Cook County, Cook County Department of Environment and Sustainability, Cook County Sheriff’s Office, MWRD, Scarce, Working Bikes
Date: 4/6/2024
Location: Miller Meadow-South, Groves 6 & 7, 2175 S 1st Ave, Maywood, IL
Time: 10am – 2pm
Trash Pickup at Diversey & California
Join Cleanup Club Chicago to kick off their first 2024 community cleanup! They will be covering both underpasses, multiple ramps, and the green spaces in between. The cleanup will go from 11 AM – 1 PM.
Host: Cleanup Club Chicago
Date: 4/6/2024
Location: Corner of California Ave and Diversey Ave
Time: 11am-1pm
Sunday, April 7th
Wicker Park Indoor Farmers Market
The Wicker Park Farmers Market includes vendors selling sustainably grown and nutritious local foods. They also have live music, food drives, book swaps, and more. Hosted by the Wicker Park Bucktown Chamber of Commerce, vendors will be selling items from spices to baked goods to mycelium, and much more! The market will also be happening again on April 21st.
Host: Wicker Park Bucktown Chamber of Commerce
Date: 4/7/2024
Location: The Robey Hall, 2018 W North Ave, Chicago, IL 60647
Time: 9am – 2pm
Monday, April 8th
Chicago Water Team Monthly Meeting
The Chicago Water Team advocates for the health and enjoyment of area waterways and equitable access to safe drinking water. At their monthly meetings, they will be planning upcoming events and campaigns, discussing ongoing activities and opportunities, and looking to connect Sierra Club members to Chicago area waterways. All experience levels are welcome.
Host: Sierra Club Illinois Chapter: Chicago Group
Date: 4/8/2024
Location: Virtual
Time: 6pm – 7:30pm
Wednesday, April 10th
Jefferson Park Solar 101 Workshop
Citizens Utility Board will be hosting a workshop all about going solar. The discussion will include how solar panels work on with your home and the grid, what incentives there are from the state and federal government, and other solar programs available to homeowners and renters in the area.
Host: Commissioner Bridget Degnen, Citizens Utility Board (CUB), Representative Lindsey LaPointe, Senator Rob Martwick
Date: 4/10/2024
Location: Jefferson Memorial Fieldhouse, 4822 N Long Ave, Chicago, IL 60630
Time: 6pm – 7pm
Friday, April 12th
Jefferson Park Pollinator Garden Virtual Meeting
The Pollinator Garden will be hosting this virtual meeting to welcome neighbors to the gardening season. They will be discussing their current plans and opening the floor to other ideas. There’s exciting news to share and opportunities to network.
You are welcome to participate in any way that is most comfortable for you. You can listen and observe or chime in with your ideas!
Host: Jefferson Park Pollinator Garden
Date: 4/7/2024
Location: Virtual
Time: 7pm – 8pm
Saturday, April 13th
Join us for a free community paper shredding event on Saturday, April 13th at 5333 N Western Ave. from 11am – 2pm or until trucks are full. Neighbors are encouraged to bring donations for new and old neighbors in need. When thinking about what to donate, please keep in mind if you wouldn’t give it to a friend, we shouldn’t give it to our neighbors. Please donate new and/or gently used items!
Accepted Items:
| Footwear: Kid and Adult new shoes Food: Rice, soy sauce, cooking oil, canned meats Baby items: Strollers, Diapers size 3+, Baby wipes Hygiene: Bars of soap, shampoo, body wash, and toothpaste |
Host: Ald. Andre Vasquez and sponsored by Commissioner Degnen
Date: 4/7/2024
Location: 5333 N Western Ave, Chicago, IL 60625
Time: 11am – 2pm
Sunday, April 14th
Come join the Cleanup Club and District 12 Commissioner Bridget Degnen to bond over the joys of removing trash from our local community! We’ll be covering a large section of Ravenswood Ave in Lakeview. There is also an optional coffee social beforehand at Ritual Coffeehouse (1821 W Irving Park Rd) from 9am – 10am.
Host: Commissioner Bridget Degnen, Cleanup Club
Date: 4/14/2024
Location: Corner of Ravenswood Ave and Irving Park Rd
Time: 10am – 12pm
Tuesday, April 16th
Cook County Forest Preserve Board Meeting
Tune into the Cook County Forest Preserves Board Meeting
Host: Cook County Forest Preserves Board of Commissioners
Date: 4/16/2024
Location: Virtual
Time: 10am – 11am
Travel back in time to early Chicago to see how the MWRD reversed the Chicago River and developed wastewater treatment technology. Go behind the scenes and underwater to see how they transform water, descend 300 feet into the deep tunnel system, and watch their electrofishing crew at work sampling fish on the Chicago River.
Virtual tours are free and open to the public. Registration is required.
Host: Metropolitan Water Reclamation District (MWRD)
Date: 4/16/2024
Location: Virtual
Time: 2pm-3pm
Wednesday, April 17th- Sunday, April 21st
One Earth Film Festival is a Chicago area film festival that creates opportunities for understanding climate change, sustainability and the power of human involvement through sustainability-themed films and facilitated discussion. We engage private, public and non-profit sector community partners in the sponsorship and production of the film festival. From April 17th-21st they will be screening 7 different films both in person and virtually throughout the city of Chicago and its suburbs. Tickets are free, but donations are encouraged as “pay what you can”. To find information on films, screening times, tickets, and locations, visit the link above.
Host: One Earth Film Festival
Dates: 4/17-4/21
Location: Varies
Time: Varies
Saturday, April 20th
LaBagh Woods Stewardship Workday
Join the Chicago Ornithological Society at LaBagh Woods, and help bring back critical bird habitats. Help to plant native shrubs, defeat menacing invasive plants, and much more to bring back the thriving native habitats that birds and so many other organisms rely on.
No experience necessary. All tools, equipment and instruction will be provided. Please wear long pants, a long-sleeved shirt, and close toed shoes you don’t mind getting quite dirty. They will make sure to have plenty of water and a snack for break time, but you are encouraged to bring a reusable water bottle.
Host: Chicago Ornithological Society
Date: 4/20/2024
Location: LaBagh Woods Grove #1
Time: 10am – 1pm
Earth Day Chicago Park Cleanup
Join thousands of volunteers in parks across Chicago in picking up litter and putting down mulch to give our precious green spaces a fresh start for the season.
Host: Chicago Park District, Friends of the Parks
Date: 4/20/2024
Location: Varies
Time: Varies
Join the Lincoln Park Conservancy to give back to Chicago’s largest and most visited park! There will be cleanups hosted at three locations in the park: South Lincoln Park, the North Pond Nature Sanctuary, and Margate Park. Supplies including buckets, gloves, and litter grabbers provided. Chalk and bubbles will be provided for youth participants. You can register for the event and choose your cleanup location using the link above.
Host: Lincoln Park Conservancy, Gold Coast Neighbors Association, and Lakeside Area Neighbors Association
Date: 4/20/2024
Location: South Lincoln Park (2045 Lincoln Park W), North Pond Sanctuary (Gazebo at Stockton and St. James), Margate Park Fieldhouse (4921 Marine Dr.)
Time: 9am-11am
On Saturday, April 20 from 9am-1pm, join our community-wide day of beautification in the parks. Meet at Ella Jenkins Park @ 333 West Wisconsin Avenue. Kids, families, dogs, & friends are welcome.
Supplies & refreshments will be provided – projects include gardening, painting, planting, and beautification. No cost to participate and your tax-deductible donation is greatly appreciated.
Host: State Rep. Margaret Croke and Alderman Timmy Knudsen
Date: 4/20/24
Location : Ella Jenkins Park 333 W Wisconsin St, Chicago, IL 60614
Time: 9am-1pm
The Institute of Cultural Affairs, an environmental sustainability and community development nonprofit, in partnership with McCutcheon Elementary School and Buttercup Park, is hosting their annual Uptown Earth Day Celebration. This year their celebration is focused on the environmental impact of plastics and promoting sustainable practices in the community.
Host: The Institute of Cultural Affairs
Date: 4/20/2024
Location: Buttercup Park, 4901 N Sheridan Rd, Chicago, IL 60640
Time: 12pm – 3pm
Sunday, April 21st
Monday, April 22nd
Waters Elementary School Earth Day Event
Join Waters Elementary for a morning of environmental education sessions, trash collection, raffles, and fun! Staff from Waters Elementary will be educating the community about the importance of bioswales on their campus and why they are so important for flood control in their area.
Host: Waters Elementary School
Date: 4/21/2024
Location: Waters Field
Time: 10am – 12pm
Wicker Park Indoor Farmers Market
The Wicker Park Farmers Market includes vendors selling sustainably grown and nutritious local foods. They also have live music, food drives, book swaps, and more. Hosted by the Wicker Park Bucktown Chamber of Commerce, vendors will be selling items from spices to baked goods to mycelium, and much more! This is the final indoor market of the season before they move outside for the summer.
Host: Wicker Park Bucktown Chamber of Commerce
Date: 4/21/2024
Location: The Robey Hall, 2018 W North Ave, Chicago, IL 60647
Time: 9am – 2pm
The Alliance for the Great Lakes is hosting one of their many beach cleanups at Foster Beach. Along with removing litter, volunteers also collect data used to study the sources of plastc pollution, which in turn help inform decision making when it comes to policies to protect our lake. Be sure to register for this event at the link above!
Host: Alliance for the Great Lakes
Date: 4/22/2024
Location: 5200 N Lake Shore Drive at the parking lot closer to the La Playa Concession area.
Time: 11:30am – 1:30pm
The Otter Society Presents: The Vital Role of the Chicago-Calumet River System
The Friends of the Chicago River is hosting a free virtual presentation on the history of the Chicago-Calumet River system, its rebounding health, and how everyone in the area plays a vital role in its continued revitalization
Host: Friend of the Chicago River
Date 4/22/2024
Location: Virtual
Time: 12pm – 1pm
Wednesday, April 24th
Cook County Environmental Commission Meeting
Tune into the Cook County Environmental Commission meeting which will be recorded and streamed live to Facebook.
Host: Commissioner Bridget Degnen
Date: 4/24/2024
Location: Virtual
Time: 10am – 11am
Saturday, April 27th
Community Bike Tune Up at Pulaski Park
Join us for a community bike tune up on April 27th at Pulaski Park from 10am – 1pm. Bike engineers from the Recyclery will be working one-on-one to tune up bikes for the warmer weather and you can learn and practice how to mount your bike on a real CTA bus!
Attendees are also encouraged to bring extra bike or bike parts to donate to the Recyclery’s Freecyclery Program, which provides refurbished bikes to those with limited means.
Registration for bike tune up encouraged (register here). Walk-ins will also be accepted.
Host: Commissioner Bridget Degnen, Alderman Daniel La Spata, Chicago Transit Authority, The Recyclery, Bike Lane Uprising, Active Transportation Alliance
Date: 4/27/2024
Location: Pulaski Park, 1419 W Blackhawk St. on the baseball field
Time: 10am – 1pm
Head to Gallagher Way for an eco-friendly market featuring artisans who transform reclaimed materials into one-of-a-kind goods and promote zero-waste activities. Some items to look for include home goods, art, plants, fashion, and body care. RSVP is not required but encouraged for receiving communication regarding the event.
Host: Nowhere Collective, Reduce Waste Chicago
Date: 4/27/2024 (Rain date 4/28/2024)
Location: Gallagher Way next to Wrigley Field (1060 W Addison St, Chicago, IL 60613)
Time: 11am-4pm
The Alliance for the Great Lakes is hosting one of their many beach cleanups at Foster Beach. Along with removing litter, volunteers also collect data used to study the sources of plastic pollution, which in turn help inform decision making when it comes to policies to protect our lake. Be sure to register for this event at the link above! This cleanup is also co-hosted by Organizing for Plastic Alternatives.
Host: Alliance for the Great Lakes
Date: 4/27/2024
Location: 5200 N Lake Shore Drive at Foster Avenue Beach House.
Time: 10am – 12pm
Roscoe Village’s annual Clean and Green Day is April 27th. Meet outside of Commonwealth Tavern April 27th at 9AM to help clean up the neighborhood! All volunteers will be provided with tools, clean-up bags and gloves. Volunteers can choose their own areas of the neighborhood or we can assign one to you.
Host: Roscoe Village Neighbors
Date: 4/27/24
Location: Commonwealth Tavern
Time: 9am-11am
Sunday, April 28th
St. Ed’s Green Team Earth Day Celebration
St. Edwards Church will be collecting bikes and scooters, along with coffee mugs to be donated or recycled. You can drop off your items on the 11th, 12th, and 14th at the parking lot near the convent, and can pick up or swap out a bike on the April 28th!
Host: St. Ed’s Green Team
Date: 4/28/2024
Location: St. Edward Church, 4350 W Sunnyside Ave, Chicago
Time: 11am – 1pm
