City celebrates Earth Day

Representatives of the City's Division of Environmental Services today joined Mayor Linda Gorton as she declared April 22 "Earth Day" in Lexington.

Through many environment-focused initiatives, the City is committed to promoting a sustainable future. Nearly 450 volunteers recently planted 4,300 trees at the 2024 Reforest the Bluegrass, and the first year of the Solarize Lexington program enabled more than 70 solar arrays to be installed, saving 672,000 kilowatt hours.

"Earth Day is an annual reminder of the constant need for environmental action," Mayor Linda Gorton said. "Lexington is home to some of the most pristine greenspace in our country, and it is our job to protect our natural beauty and resources."

This weekend and on Monday, April 22, Lexington residents can take part in many events to observe Earth Day:

Saturday, April 20

• In honor of Record Store Day, Parks & Recreation is giving away free, limited edition recordings of the sounds of Raven Run Nature Sanctuary while supplies last at CD Central, 377 S. Limestone, POPS Resale, 1423B Leestown Rd., and The Album, 371 S. Limestone.
• Lexington-Fayette County residents can pick up free tree seedlings to plant in their own yards through Reforest at Home. Trees will be available on a first-come, first-served basis, with a limit of five trees total and two flowering ornamental species per household from 10 a.m. - 1 p.m. at Shillito Park, 300 W. Reynolds Rd., Shelter #1; Jacobson Park, 4001 Athens Boonesboro Rd., Shelter #6; and Living Arts and Science Center, 362 N. Martin Luther King Blvd.
• Stick around after picking up your tree at the Living Arts and Science Center for Discovery Saturday. From 10 a.m.- 4 p.m., celebrate Earth Day with an art fair and environmental activities for the whole family.

Monday, April 22

• Earth Day Volunteer Hours: 11 a.m., 1 p.m., and 3 p.m., at McConnell Springs Park, 416 Rebmann Ln.
• Wildflower Walk: 1 - 2:30 p.m., at Raven Run Nature Sanctuary, 3885 Raven Run Way
• Earth Day Tree ID: 3 p.m., at Hisle Farm Park, 3551 Briar Hill Rd.
• Project Beautify: Earth Day at Dunbar, 5 - 7 p.m., at Dunbar Community Center, 545 N Upper St.
• Earth Day Kids Celebration: 5:30 - 7 p.m., at William Wells Brown Community Center, 548 E. Sixth St.
• Earth Day Printmaking: 6 - 8:30 p.m., at Artworks at the Carver Center, 522 Patterson St.
• Full Moon & Lyrid Meteor Shower Hike: 7:30 - 9 p.m., at Raven Run Nature Sanctuary, 3885 Raven Run Way