Celebrating Earth Day and a Greener, Healthier, Cooler Earth

Earth Day serves as a powerful reminder of our collective responsibility to protect and preserve the Earth for current and future generations. It encourages us to act and make a difference in the health and sustainability of our planet.

Project EverGreen is passionate about Earth Day and the importance of green spaces in communities across the country. We want you to be just as excited about the benefits communities’ experience from well-maintained yards, parks, and green spaces.

Why is celebrating green spaces on Earth Day important?

Earth Day is important because it serves as a global reminder of the critical need to protect and preserve our planet. Here are some key reasons why Earth Day is significant in creating a greener, healthier, cooler Earth:

• Environmental Awareness – Earth Day raises awareness about environmental issues, such as climate change, pollution, deforestation, and biodiversity loss. It educates people about the impact of human activities on the planet and the importance of sustainable practices.
• Inspiring Action – Earth Day inspires individuals, communities, businesses, and governments to take action to address environmental challenges. It serves as a catalyst for positive change and encourages people to adopt environmentally friendly habits and practices.
• Global Cooperation – Earth Day is a global event that brings people together across borders and cultures to work towards a common goal—the protection of our planet. It promotes international cooperation and collaboration on environmental issues.
• Policy Influence – Earth Day has played a significant role in shaping environmental policy and legislation around the world. It has helped to raise political awareness and pressure governments to act on key environmental issues.
• Educational Opportunities – Earth Day provides valuable educational opportunities for people of all ages to learn about environmental issues and solutions. It helps to promote environmental literacy and empower individuals to make informed decisions.
• Saluting Nature – Earth Day is a celebration of the natural world and all its beauty and diversity. It reminds us of the importance of preserving nature for future generations to enjoy.
• Long-Term Impact – Earth Day has had a lasting impact since its inception in 1970. It has helped to spark a global environmental movement that continues to grow and evolve, driving positive change for the planet.

“Green spaces are the lungs are the heart and lungs of a city and research shows a multitude of environmental, economic and lifestyle benefits,” says Cindy Code, executive director of Project EverGreen. “Parks, lawns, landscapes and maintained green spaces help to mitigate temperature increases in communities, reducing the ‘heat island’ effect, and provide cleaner air through carbon sequestration.”

Project EverGreen’s celebrates Earth Day through its GreenCare for Communities initiative which has made a significant impact on the environmental well-being of communities across the country. Since 2008, Project EverGreen and its partners have renovated community parks and public green spaces totaling more than 200 million square feet of living green space.

Through its nationwide base of professional volunteers, GreenCare for Communities connects people, plants, and their communities to maximize the health of grass, plants, and trees, which in turn sequesters carbon and cleans the air. The initiative supports healthy green spaces in neighborhoods and cities, enabling maintained green spaces to function as the lungs of the city and offsetting the negative effects of a warming environment.

GreenCare for Communities is gearing up for another year of revitalizing under-resourced public green spaces and connecting individuals with a flourishing community park within 10 minutes walking distance of their home.

Through the initiative, Project EverGreen collaborates with donors, volunteers, community groups and municipal parks staff to accomplish that goal.

Community green spaces have also been shown to help create closer-knit communities and improve well-being, and in doing so, increasing safety, and lowering levels of vandalism. From an economic perspective, access to well-maintained parks and green spaces increases property values and employee productivity and boosts business activity.

Project EverGreen is seeking volunteers, corporate donors, and advocates to join them and contribute to the renaissance of urban communities across the country in 2024.

2024 GreenCare for Communities Projects

• Daytona Beach
• Raleigh
• New York City
• Detroit
• Phoenix