North Charlotte Today

Mecklenburg County has announced a series of events to celebrate Earth Day, encouraging residents to engage with their environment and contribute to its protection.

Park and Recreation, Charlotte-Mecklenburg Storm Water Services, and Keep Charlotte Beautiful are organizing clean-up operations on April 21 and 22. The events include litter collection at Bette Rae Thomas Recreation Center and Enderly Park on the first day, and at Cordelia Park and Little Sugar Creek Greenway on the second day. Registration for these activities, along with other volunteer opportunities, is encouraged.

On April 22, Reedy Creek Park will host an Earth Day hike led by Park and Recreation staff, offering participants a chance to explore the trails. Pre-registration is necessary.

The N.C. Cooperative Extension, Mecklenburg County Center will hold the "Love Your Local" event from April 22 to 27. It focuses on local food, sustainability, and community connections through activities such as gardening demonstrations, brewery trivia, a farmers market shopping tour, and a youth cookoff.

A senior gardening session is planned for April 24 at the Northern Regional Recreation Center. Seniors aged 55 and older can learn gardening techniques and contribute to community food resources. Pre-registration is required for this event.

On April 25, the Northern Regional Recreation Center will host "Kids Night Out," an event for children aged 7-13. The evening includes two hours of games and dinner centered around Earth Day themes, and requires registration.

An enhanced recycling event, "Earth Day Take-Back," is set for April 26 at Compost Central, located at 140 Valleydale Road, Charlotte. Residents can shred documents and recycle electronics, textiles, and some medical supplies from 9 a.m. to noon. Although the event is free, advance registration is required for paper shredding. Participants may also receive a coupon for free compost.

Additionally, Park and Recreation will host various activities as part of the City Nature Challenge, an international initiative to document local wildlife.