Green Gary Celebration

Enjoy a fun-filled day along the shores of Lake Michigan while learning about Gary`s national park site and other green spaces. On April 26, 2008 from 11:00 A.M. to 3:00 P.M. both Marquette Park and the Paul H. Douglas Center of Indiana Dunes National Park will host the sixth annual Green Gary celebration in honor of the sometimes, hidden natural beauty of Gary. Coinciding with Earth Day and National Park Week celebrations, this event features free family oriented activities presented by the Lake County Solid Waste Management District, Gary Park & Recreation Department, Indiana Dunes National Park, and the Gary Community Partnership.

At Marquette Park, visitors and residents are invited to a beach clean-up to honor the earth. The beach clean up will begin at 10 a.m. before the other festivities at Marquette Park Beach. Jointly sponsored by the Alliance for the Great Lakes, the beach clean-up will bring together families and others to contribute back to the community. Participants should meet at the Marquette Park beach; gloves and bags will be provided.

 

The special feature of this year`s Green Gary event will be the live wolf demonstration by Big Run Wolf Ranch form Lockport IL. The first demonstration will be at 11:30 a.m. with a second show at 1:30 p.m.; both demonstrations will take place at Marquette Park. Bikers will enjoy a guided bike tour beginning at 3:00 p.m. at the Aquatorium. Riders need to bring their own bikes and helmets as they traverse sections of the future Gary Green Link bike trail. A free shuttle service will be available to visitors to travel from one park location to the other. Other activities for families to enjoy throughout the day include:

• Meeting Smokey the Bear with a wildland firefighting demonstration.
• Exploring a tent full of activity booths hosted by local nature and civic organizations.
• Becoming a Junior Ranger.
• Hiking the beach or Miller Woods trail in Indiana Dunes National Park.
• Learn how to juggle and make recycled juggling clubs.

Participants can view and help judge a special poster contest featuring are work form Gary school students and youth form the Afternoons R.O.C.K. program. Be on hand for the awards and help celebrate ways to keep our parks safe and clean.

 

In addition to having a good time, there`s the chance to learn more about future Green Gary activities and the organizations that sponsor them. Since Gary includes a major portion of a national park, 57 city parks, two county parks, several nature preserves belonging to land trusts, and a host of other green spaces, there is no shortage of places or activities to enjoy. Free maps of Gary`s green spaces and activity lists will be available during this event.

The Community Partnership presenting this Green Gary celebration is an informal coalition of over 20 private and public groups. The partnership provides a forum that helps northwest Indiana communities and Indiana Dunes National Park work together to heighten awareness and develop appreciation of surrounding natural areas.

For more information or a free brochure on Green Gary, contact Ezra Alexander of the Gary Park Department at 219-886-7099 or Kip Walton of Indiana Dunes National Park at 219-926-7561, extension 244.