Earth Week: Activities In The People’s Park For Your Pod

Kevin Essington, RWPC Exec. Director

This year, Earth Day has become “Earth Week!” in Roger Williams Park and across Providence. For years, Providence Mayor Jorge O. Elorza showed his commitment to sustainability by hosting a city-wide Earth Day Spring Cleaning event. The kick-off event has traditionally been held in Roger Williams Park. One year the celebration nearly set a world record for tree hugging! Despite a hiatus last year, due to COVID, activities have been modified to follow current RIDOH COVID guidelines and promote a series of “calls to action.” The Mayor will also release the City’s Sustainability Report from the RWP Botanical Center on April 22 at 2:00 PM.  

I want to encourage you and your family and neighbors to celebrate our Providence parks and the natural wonders all around our city. I hope you will join us in visiting Roger Williams Park on your own with your family or “pod” during “Earth Week” from Thursday, April 22 (Earth Day) to April 30 (Arbor Day). Here are just some of the fun activities in Roger Williams Park, and beyond, that you can enjoy.

• Ride your bike, grab your reusable bag, take a selfie, and complete your city-wide “Earth Week Bingo Card.” Bingo winners win two tickets to the Roger Williams Park Zoo! 
• Take a selfie at each historic monument or building in the Roger Williams Park Self-Guided Tour and win a new Roger Williams Park t-shirt, designed by local artist Peter Cardoso
• Take a selfie at each notable tree in the Roger Williams Park Notable Tree guide and win a new Roger Williams Park t-shirt, designed by local artist Peter Cardoso
• Attend Fairy Garden Days at the Roger Williams Park Botanical Center
• Buy a ticket to a planetarium show at the Museum of Natural History and Planetarium
• Buy a ticket to the Asian Lantern Spectacular at the Zoo
• Take a Swan Boat ride
• Sign up for a game of tennis on the only public clay courts in Rhode Island
• Have dinner at Food Truck Friday at the Carousel

I will be out in Roger Williams Park with board members and volunteers on the afternoon of Saturday April 24 and Sunday April 25.  Look for our tent at the Boathouse on Saturday, and at the Botanical Center on Sunday. We will have Park information, guides, and we will have art and t-shirts for sale. See you there!