GO WEST!

neighborhood partners are working together to clear invasive bamboo and debris along the Northeast Hiking Trail to celebrate this year’s Earth Day on the Atlanta BeltLine. The volunteer event will be held April 19 beginning at 8:30 a.m. at Park Tavern (corner of 10th and Monroe). Volunteers should wear sturdy, closetoed shoes, long sleeves and pants, work gloves (extra gloves will be available), and should bring a water bottle, bug spray, and sunscreen. Be prepared for moderate to heavy work. All ages are welcome, while children must be accompanied by an adult. To register, visit earthdayonatlbeltline14.eventbrite.com.

Decatur Earth Day Festival

The event will be April 19 from 1 to 4 p.m. at the Wylde Center at the corner of Oakview and South McDonough. The festival is pirate-themed again this year (costumes encouraged) and will feature free arts and crafts for kids, 40 vendors, live music, cake contest and more. For details visit wyldecenter.org.

p.m. on Tech Walk The event is free, open to the public, features over 70 exhibitors and includes eco-friendly giveaways, recycling opportunities, a clothing swap, an office supply exchange, live music, and organic popcorn. This is one of the largest Earth Day celebrations in the southeast. For more information visit earthday.gatech. edu.

The Hoochie

The Nature Conservancy’s 20th annual gathering will be held April 25 at The Goat Farm in West Midtown. The event will honor President and Mrs. Jimmy Carter, who served on the host committee of the inaugural Hoochie. There will a curated art experience, live performances, gourmet food and a silent auction. For more information, visit nature.org/hoochie.

Volunteer Opportunities

Piedmont Park: The Piedmont Park Conservancy has numerous volunteer opportunities, including working to cleanup the park, becoming a park docent, volunteering at the seasonal Green Market and with the Dog Park Patrol. Piedmontpark.org.

Park Pride: The nonprofit is looking for seasonal volunteers to help with park cleanups and greenspace maintenance. Visit parkpride.org for details.

Trees Atlanta: All events are Saturday mornings, 9 a.m. until noon year-round. Please bring gloves and a bottle of water. Trees Atlanta provides all tools and instruction. Volunteers can also up at treesatlanta.org.

Chattahoochee Riverkeeper: From working all day at a festival, to assisting with river clean-ups, to helping out for a few hours in the office, there’s something available for everyone. Find out more at ucriverkeeper.com/volunteer.

Georgia Tech’s Earth Day Celebration

The 18th annual event is set for April 18, 10 a.m. to 3

Atlanta Streets Alive kicks off new season in historic community

By Collin Kelley INtown Editor

Tens of thousands participated in last year’s Atlanta Streets Alive events, and the 2014 schedule is shaping up to bring even more folks out to bike, walk, skate and enjoy their communities on streets closed to vehicular traffic for an afternoon.

The year kicks off in historic West End on April 20 from 2 to 6 p.m. More than 15,000 are expected to take part in the event, according to Rebecca Serna, Executive Director of the Atlanta Bicycle Coalition, which sponsors the ASA initiative.

The A 2.7-mile route will run along Ralph David Abernathy Boulevard, Murphy Avenue and White Avenue. There will be easy access to the event right outside the West End MARTA station. Along with the historic homes and landmarks (the Wren’s Nest and Adair Park, for example), there will be activities all along the route.

“We picked West End because we feel like it’s an overlooked Atlanta gem,” Serna said. “There are so man beautiful homes, cultural assets and an active neighborhood association.”

West End isn’t the only neighborhood on the schedule for 2014. On May 18, ASA will take over a 3-mile stretch of Peachtree Street from Martin Luther King Jr. Drive to West Peachtree. A northern stretch of Peachtree will be spotlighted on Sept. 7, while the event will return to Highland Avenue on Oct. 5.

Serna said the growth of ASA has been amazing to watch. Nearly 160,000 people took part in last year’s street parties, including 83,000 on the Highland loop event alone.

“I think the success of Atlanta Streets Alive is a testament to the fact that there is a thirst for community engagement and the opportunities to see the city in a different way - outside a vehicle.”

This year’s ASA sponsors include MailChimp, Ponce City Market, Jamestown, REI, New Belgium, and the Waterfall Foundation, and partners include the West End Neighborhood

Wylde Center: The Wylde Center has weekly volunteer opportunities at the gardens it manages around the city including Oakhurst Garden in Decatur, Sugar Creek Garden in East Lake, Hawk Hollow and Edgewood Community Learning Garden. wyldecenter.org.

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