Editor's note:

This story was updated to reflect a change in the location of the Ward 2 Clean Up.

April is Earth Month, and as Earth Day approaches on Monday, April 22, there is still plenty of time to get out and give Mother Nature some extra TLC in Akron.

Head out to the Middlebury neighborhood Friday, April 19, and join Keep Akron Beautiful (KAB) and Akron Mayor Shammas Malik for a neighborhood cleanup event happening rain or shine. 

The event will kick off at KAB’s headquarters at 850 E. Market Street from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. Bags, gloves and grabbers will be provided. Interested volunteers can register here.

KAB, whose mission is “to implement a comprehensive litter prevention, recycling promotion and beautification program for the City of Akron,” organizes a Clean Up Akron Month each April. In 2023, more than 18,000 volunteers removed more than 60 tons of trash and 85 tires, according to a press release.

Earth Day (and week) events in and around Akron

Cuyahoga Valley National Park
(Note: Each event has a separate registration for that day. Click the individual dates to get to the correct registration link.) 

Invasive plant removal: 

April 18 from 1 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. | April 19 from 1 p.m. to 3:30 p.m.

Volunteers will remove invasive species that overcrowd the park’s native species. This event is suitable for children ages 10 and up, with a guardian present. Registration is required, and outdoor work gloves and eye protection will be provided. 

Native planting event:

April 20 | 1 p.m. to 3:30 p.m.

Volunteers will plant up to 600 native trees. Volunteers who are 10 to 15 years old must have parent or guardian supervision at the project site. Volunteers who are 16 to 17 years old are only required to have a parent or guardian sign their volunteer agreement form. Registration is required, and outdoor work gloves and eye protection will be provided, but volunteers are permitted to bring personal equipment. Be sure to bring adequate water.

Habitat restoration event: 

April 25 | 1 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. | April 26 | 1 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. | April 27 | 1 p.m. to 3:30 p.m.

Volunteers will help restore the natural habitat of the park. Suitable for ages 10 and up. Volunteers who are 10 to 15 years old must have parent or guardian supervision at the project site. Volunteers who are 16 to 17 years old are only required to have a parent or guardian sign their volunteer agreement form. Outdoor work gloves and eye protection will be provided, but volunteers are permitted to bring personal equipment. Be sure to bring adequate water.

Recycling with the Habitat ReStore 

April 19 | Noon to 4 p.m.

Stop by the Habitat ReStore to donate used appliances and furniture, drop off compost scraps and learn about helping the wildlife in your backyard. Free latex paint will also be available.

Ward 2 Clean Up with Keep Akron Beautiful
(Editor’s note — the location has been changed as of April 18)
April 20 | 8:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.
Join KAB at Station 300 (the old Stonehedge Bowling alley location) in the parking lot near the post office on Cuyahoga Falls Avenue for a Ward 2 clean up day. Garbage bags, gloves, hand sanitizer, trash-picking sticks and all other necessary materials will be provided.

Party for the Planet – Akron Zoo

April 20 | 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.

The Akron Zoo is hosting local conservation organizations on-grounds for “Party for the Planet.” The local conservation organizations who will be at the event include the Akron Zoo Chapter of the American Association of Zookeepers, Crown Pointe Ecology Center, Frog Watch USA and more.

Kenmore Branch Library – Earth Day Celebration

April 20 | 1 p.m. to 4 p.m.

Head over to the Kenmore Branch Library to meet with local park rangers and naturalists beginning at 1 p.m. If you hang out until 3 p.m., you can hear a performance from the Steel Drum Army, showcasing students in grades 9 through 12 living with learning disabilities, autism and other challenges.

Upcycling for the Earth – Summit MetroParks

April 21 | 12:30 p.m. to  2 p.m.

Summit MetroParks is hosting “Upcycling for the Earth” at the Summit Lake Nature Center. Stop by to learn how to upcycle and create something new from something old, all while helping protect the earth.

Earth Day for Kids – Summit MetroParks

April 21 | 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. 

Take your young humans to Summit MetroParks’ F.A. Seiberling Nature Realm to learn about the Earth and why it is so unique. Through educational activities, arts and crafts, learn how you can make a difference.

Ohio Erie Canalway

April 27 | 9 a.m. to noon

Ohio & Erie Canalway is hosting a Canal Cleanup at Summit Lake Park. Folks attending should wear appropriate shoes and clothing, but snacks, water and all required materials will be provided. Sign up here.

Planting Change – Keep Akron Beautiful

April 27 | 12 p.m. to 3 p.m.

This campaign is dedicated to planting 100,000 trees in Akron by 2034, aiming to rejuvenate the city’s tree canopy and foster a sustainable ecosystem. The event is for community members, businesses and organizations interested in learning more about shaping a greener, more vibrant Akron.

Spring clean up in North Hill

April 20 | 9 a.m. to noon

Make your way to People’s Park, located at 760 Elma St., for a spring clean up in North Hill. Groups of volunteers will split up to clean up all around the North Hill neighborhood, including preparing local gardens and planters for spring plants. Volunteers are encouraged to bring their own gloves. Email admin@northhillcdc.og to join the event.

Multimedia reporter/producer (she/her)
Kassi Filkins strives to be an active part of whatever community she finds herself in and joins Signal Akron in its mission to bring accessible and community-focused news to all Akronites.

Kassi was born and raised in Central Ohio and is a photojournalism graduate of Kent State University. She was a staff member at the Southeast Missourian and the Hartford Courant before working in non-profit communications.

Kassi lives in Highland Square and enjoys local coffee shops, walking along trails in the Cuyahoga Valley National Park and hanging out with her dogs, cat and husband.

Community & service reporter (they/them)
Reegan Davis Saunders is Signal Akron’s community & service reporter. Reegan studied journalism and art at Kent State University, and they are passionate about the intersection of the two disciplines.

Although Reegan grew up in metro Detroit, they have always been an Ohio State Buckeyes fan. After living in Kent the past few years, they are excited to explore more of Akron, especially the coffee shops.

At Signal Akron, Reegan hopes to serve underrepresented communities by creating more accessible content.

Editor-in-Chief (she/her)
Zake has deep roots in Northeast Ohio journalism. She was the managing editor for multimedia and special projects at the Akron Beacon Journal, where she began work as a staff photographer in 1986. Over a 20-year career, Zake worked in a variety of roles across departments that all help inform her current role as Signal Akron's editor in chief. Most recently, she was a journalism professor and student media adviser at Kent State University, where she worked with the next generation of journalists to understand public policy, environmental reporting, data and solutions reporting. Among her accomplishments was the launch of the Kent State NewsLab, an experiential and collaborative news commons that connects student reporters with outside professional partners.