By Katia Jenkins Brown
Staff Writer
Manhattan Beach has been hosting events throughout April to celebrate Earth Day, which is on April 22, and promote environmental friendliness and keeping the city clean.
Manhattan Beach partnered with local organizations, such as the Manhattan Beach Public Library and the Botanical Gardens, to host a series of environmental programs for the community. This year, the festivities will end with Manhattan Beach’s 24th annual Earth Day Celebration tomorrow at Polliwog Park.
The City Council has taken leading positions on several environmental initiatives, creating some of the strongest environmental policies in the country right here in Manhattan Beach. Earth Month is one of them,” environmental programs manager at Manhattan Beach City Council Sona Coffee said.
Earth Month is an extension of Manhattan Beach’s sustainability project, which began after the Manhattan Beach City Council adopted the 2012-2013 Environmental Action Plan, which includes steps towards water conservation and recycling, climate action and energy efficiency, and sustainable home yards and gardens.
“The idea of sustainability in Manhattan Beach started a few years ago as we transition to consider overall environmental stability,” Coffee said. “Our new statement is ‘to unite the community in a comprehensive effort to promote sustainable living in the city of Manhattan Beach.’ ”
This year, Earth Month has included free Spring Classes at the Manhattan Beach Botanical Gardens in Polliwog Park April 9th through June 4th. These free classes are open for anyone to attend, including Mira Costa students.
“Students can attend the free classes, take the lessons learned home, and start making simple changes to their own yards,” Coffee said. “They can learn to save water right away, and create landscapes that are beneficial to city wildlife.”
The April 9 class, “Ask the Arborist”, was taught by certified arborist Louie Gamino. Upcoming classes include “Success with Succulents”tomorrow, taught by award winning succulent planter Maria Capaldo. Manhattan Beach recreation services manager Idris insits that parks make life better.
“The parks, and the activities in the parks, allow Manhattan Beach to experience the gifts of water, air, and earth that we are lucky to live with,” Al-Oboudi said.
This year’s Earth Day celebration at Polliwog is hosted by Manhattan Beach’s Parks and Recreation department, as well as over 7,000 community participants. There will be live music, and eco-education station for students, and a Kid’s Activity Walk with stations like touch pools, live animals, and coloring.
“The goal of the celebration is to create awareness of things that impact the environment, and what to do about it,” Al-Oboudi said. “We discuss environmental issues and provide participants with information, tools, and actions they can take to protect the Earth.”
An extension of the celebration will also include shredding and E-waste collection at the Manhattan Beach Middle School parking lot, as well as battery and printer toner cartridge recycling at the city’s Going Green Booth. Al-Oboudi encourages Costa students to attend and learn in.
“Learning in the park provides access to beauty and nature, and students can learn by doing,” Al-Oboudi said. “Outdoor lab learning is more effective than learning in the classroom because it’s fun and active.”
The first Earth Day Celebration was held in Polliwog Park in 1992. Now run by Manhattan Beach Parks and Recreation, the event includes guest speakers, live music, eco-education stages for students, and e-waste collection.
“I believe there is a strong sustainability ethic in the city of Manhattan Beach.” Coffee said. “The evidence is in the numerous environmental programs produced each year, and the support these programs get from the community.”
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