Philly’s Largest Park Celebration Returns This May

Show Mother Nature some TLC during Love Your Park Week. / Photograph by Steve Belkowitz for Fairmount Park Conservancy

This upcoming Monday, nearly 200 countries will celebrate Earth Day, our annual chance to show Mother Nature some TLC and raise awareness about the perks of going green and protecting our environment.

While I think it’s great to take action in some form on Monday, I also believe caring for our planet shouldn’t be limited to just one day. It’s not that difficult to make simple, healthy choices that benefit Earth every day. Fortunately, Philly organizations such as the Fairmount Park Conservancy, Philadelphia Parks & Recreation, and the Park Friends Network offer grateful-for-nature opportunities and events throughout the year, so we can show our ecosystem love 24/7.

This year, these three local environment leaders have again joined forces to host Love Your Park Week. The nine-day “clean and green” celebration, taking place May 11th through May 19th, strives to revitalize the 100 public green spaces in and around Philadelphia.

Volunteer to help plant trees, tend flower beds, and pick up trash throughout Philly parks this May. / Photograph by Steve Belkowitz for Fairmount Park Conservancy

Love Your Park Week kicks off with a citywide service day on May 11th, with more than 60 volunteer opportunities. Over 2,500 participants will head to parks across Philadelphia to plant flowers, clean up litter, and mulch trees. If you can’t make it that day (or you want to give nature some extra lovin’), sign up for one of the other clean-up events in the subsequent eight days, like the chance to spruce up more than two dozen Philly parks on May 18th. Bonus: You’ll receive a free T-shirt for lending a hand.

In addition to all the volunteer ops, there are also a ton of fun and free (!) fitness and wellness events. You can learn how to row on the Schuylkill, tour Fairmount’s public art installations by bike, make your own terrarium ($20), and take a walking photography class through FDR Park. Other events, including hikes, plant sales, outdoor movie nights, and picnics, can be found here.

Volunteer registration is now open. Sign up here to get outside, meet other community members, and give back to our planet. You can search for events by type, neighborhood, and number of volunteers needed. But, of course, Mother Nature can never have too many people caring for her.

Let’s get social! Join Be Well Philly at:
FACEBOOK | INSTAGRAM | NEWSLETTER | TWITTER