‘Putting the Green in Greencastle’ activities encouraged for Earth Day, April 22

In light of the annual Clean City Day initiatives being canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Greencastle Civic League is encouraging residents to clean up their yards and neighborhoods on Earth Day, Wednesday, April 22.

The campaign, called “Putting the Green in Greencastle,” is inspired by the 50th anniversary of Earth Day and the statewide #INthistogether campaign.

Ideas to join in the effort include:

• Pick up sticks and limbs in your yard.

• Pick up litter in front of your house or apartment building.

• Plant a native tree.

• Plant native wildflowers.

• Install a bird feeder or bird bath.

• Pull invasive plants and weeds.

• Clean up an area of your yard.

• Mulch.

Remember to use CDC-recommended social distancing guidelines and stay at least six feet away from other people. Gloves and masks are also recommended.

Residents are encouraged to take pictures of the clean-up activity and post them online to Facebook and Instagram tagging Greencastle Civic League and using #INthistogether and #GreenInGreencastle.

“We are feeling very powerless right now,” said Megan Linneweber, president of the Greencastle Civic League. “But this is one easy way we can all personally take an action that will improve our community. We look forward to more socially engaging clean-up activities in the future, but for now we hope to connect online and across streets to join together to make Greencastle an even cleaner and greener city.”

Greencastle Civic League Inc. was founded in 1984. Its mission is to improve life in Greencastle, primarily through beautification, clean-up projects, cultural development and the arts. Major projects include the construction of the Emerald Palace playground at Robe-Ann Park, the creation of the Bob York Splash Park and a number of murals downtown. The group also facilitates ParkFest, the 4th of July Pancake Breakfast and two annual highway clean-ups of its sponsored portion of the Veterans Memorial Highway.

Learn more at www.GreencastleCivicLeague.org.