Earth Day Every Day Series

Earth globe in background with Earth Day text over top

Happy Earth Day 2024!  Officially recognized on April 22, Stark Parks will be hosting Earth Day events in April and throughout the year.  There are not too many things that every person in this world has in common, but it starts with sharing this planet together.

On Earth Day, we look at what we have done in the past and what we hope to do in the future from a personal perspective and a larger community.  We invite you to come together with other individuals, families, and groups and show appreciation for our mother earth by participating in these service activities and programs.  In 2023, the impact of human power was great.  Earth Day Everyday efforts 2023 removed 41 tires - Removed 4,860 pounds of invasive garlic mustard - Collected & cleaned 16 species of native plants (approximately 17,200 seeds) - Removed 2 dump truck + 1 truck bed worth of trash - Collected 3,000 pounds of e-waste

2024 Clean Up and Activity Schedule

  • Park and Trail Clean Up

    Join us on the 54th anniversary of Earth Day for a morning clean up at two different locations! A representative from Stark Parks will provide instructions, gloves, and trash bags for volunteers. Off the trail the surface may be uneven exceeding a 5% grade, so volunteers are encouraged to wear comfortable shoes, long-sleeve shirts, and pants. We look forward to your help!  Please use the registration above to sign up to volunteer.

    April 20, 2024
    Clean-ups begin at 9 a.m.
    Iron Horse Trail (North side of trail in Alliance)
    Volunteers will walk on and along the trail picking up trash.  Further parking instructions will be sent after registration.

    Esmont Park
    194 Mill St. SE, Canton, OH 44707
    Volunteers will walk on and along the 0.6 natural surface loop trail picking up trash.

  • City Nature Challenge

    April 27
    Exploration Gateway at Sippo Lake Park
    5712 12th St. NW, Canton 44708

    The annual “City Nature Challenge” is when community members of all ages explore the outdoors and document all things nature – plants and mushrooms, or birds and butterflies, or tracks and scat. This is an international community science competition where cities are in a contest against each other to see who can make the most observations of nature, who can find the most species, and who can engage the most people.

    In 2022, our region placed 7th in the world overall. Bring your camera or smartphone to Sippo Lake Park.

  • Garlic Mustard Contest (Invasive Species Pull)

    May 4, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
    Wildlife Conservation Center-Sippo Lake Park
    800 Genoa Ave., Massillon 44646

    Stark Parks has joined the annual garlic mustard pulling contest against the City of Green, Put-In-Bay, Portage Park District, and others. Join us at the Wildlife Conservation Center to help Stark County come out on top! Garlic mustard, an invasive weed that poses a threat to our native plants and wildlife, is easily pulled by hand. In rare cases it can be mildly irritating to the skin, so wear long sleeves, and bring your competitive spirit! Registration not required, drop-in anytime to help.

  • River Clean-Up

    August 13, 2024 at 5:30 p.m.
    Lock 4 Trailhead

    Join us on the Tuscarawas River for an evening clean up! Volunteers will follow the Towpath Trail walking south starting at Lock 4 Trailhead in Canal Fulton along the limestone trail and in the water. Representatives from Stark Parks will provide gloves, trash bags, life jackets, and waders. Volunteers who are in the water will be pulling a canoe or kayak provided by Stark Parks. We recommend that you wear closed-toe shoes and bug spray if you are helping clean up on land.

  • Seed Collection and Cleaning

    Native Seed Collections and Cleanings
    Held in October and November 2024.  Dates Coming Soon!

  • Trash to Treasure Recycle Art Contest

    Another person's trash could be your ticket to a winning art piece!  Join Friends of Stark Parks and partners, Stark Parks, Stark-Tuscarawas-Wayne Recycling District, Ohio Ocean Foundation, and Habitat for Humanity ReStore Canton for our annual upcycle art contest in celebration of America Recycles Day in November! We’re looking for the most unique piece of art made entirely of recycled items.  2024 Information will be posted soon.