Essex County Celebrates Earth Day

A free, family friendly event offering residents the opportunity to participate in hands-on educational games and activities, canoe trips, bird walks and an eco-market will be held in Essex County on Saturday.

The public is invited to the Ninth Annual Earth Day Celebration at the Essex County Environmental Center in Roseland, according to a release from Essex County Executive Joseph N. DiVincenzo, Jr.

“Earth Day gives us a special time to appreciate our world, reminds us of the importance of keeping our air and water clean, and provides a sampling of the depth of programming offered at the Environmental Center,” DiVincenzo said. “We invite the public to join us for a great day of crafts, learning, canoeing and fun. Working together we can help keep Essex County green.”

The Environmental Center Staff has worked with partner agencies to present an Earth Day event that will appeal to all ages. The Essex County Beekeepers Society station will show the inner workings of a bee hive and offer local, award-winning honey and other bee products for purchase.  The New Jersey Woodturners will demonstrate how art is created from found pieces of wood and fallen tree branches. NJ Audubon will lead visitors on bird walks, members of the Essex County Master Gardeners will be on hand to talk about horticulture and composting, and the 4-H Club will present its Annual Fair. Canoe rides will be offered and there will be a dinosaur fossil exhibit. 

Admission is free but merchandise from vendors will be for sale. Public Service Electric and Gas Company is the marquee sponsor; other sponsors are Covanta Energy-Essex and Whole Foods Market of West Orange. For more information, visit www.essexcountynj.org or call 973-228-8776.

The Essex County Park System was created in 1895 and is the first county park system established in the United States. The Park System consists of more than 6,000 acres and has 22 parks, five reservations, an environmental center, a zoo, Treetop Adventure Course, ice skating rink, roller skating rink, three public golf courses, golf driving range, two miniature golf courses, three off-leash dog facilities, a castle and the Presby Memorial Iris Gardens.

The event will be held on Saturday, April 26, from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. The Essex County Environmental Center is located at 621B Eagle Rock Ave. in Roseland.