After an endless Winter, it’s time to get out and celebrate Spring! Join the HCIA on Saturday, April 21st for the 28th Annual Earth Day Celebration at Liberty State Park!
Kick-off Earth Day at 10:00 am and get your heartrate going at the Annual Earth Day 5K Run/Walk. The race promises a flat and fast USATF-NJ Certified route through Liberty State Park and has become one of the region’s fastest growing Spring 5Ks. All registrants will receive a race t-shirt as well as post-race refreshments. Register now and join the fun!
On-site registration is available, however, participants must pre-register to guarantee a t-shirt. Trophies will be awarded to the overall Male and Female finishers in the categories of: 14 & younger; 15-19; 20-29; 30-39; 40-49; 50-59; 60-69; 70-79; and 80+!
After the race, stick around for some fun at the Earth Day Kids Kingdom and Fair. From 11:00 am to 4:00 pm, participants can enjoy a fun day outdoors with free activities planned throughout the day. The Earth Day Main Stage will be offering live entertainment throughout the day including the Early Morning Singers, an Earth Science Circus Show, a performance by the Paper Mill Playhouse Choir, the Rosario Costume Characters, a concert by the family-friendly music group Little Rockers as well as music by DJ Mickey. There will also be strolling entertainment including stilt walkers, clowns and jugglers. Kids can enjoy arts and crafts activities, inflatable rides and obstacle course, face painting as well as kite flying. Attendees of all ages can visit the tents for a variety of community and environmental exhibitors, health screenings, as well as an opportunity to learn more about the work of the Hudson County Improvement Authority and the Hudson County Transportation Management Association. Since it’s Earth Day, you can learn more about recycling and bring home a free sapling to plant in your yard!
All of this excitement will make you work up an appetite. Don’t worry, food will be available for purchase from a variety of vendors including Tony’s Sausage, Ben & Jerry’s, The Empanada Guy, Maison Crepes, and Rogue Taco’s. Try one, or try them all!
Paid parking is available at the Ferry Lot and the Light Rail Station with shuttle bus transportation available to the event. The HCIA encourages attendees to use public transportation (hey it’s Earth Day!) using bus or light rail to the Liberty State Park Light Rail Station.
Get ready for a great day of fun at Earth Day! While you are outdoors running (or walking) on the Hudson River Waterfront Walkway, flying a kite or watching the kids enjoy some inflatable fun- remember that we are there to celebrate our planet. We only get one Planet Earth and we need to take care of it by making it Earth Day every day! So while you are there, take a moment to participate in some of the free activities put together by the HCIA to educate the public on how to be more environmentally conscious at home, at school and at work!
Earth Day- How It All Started!
In 1969, United States Senator Gaylord Wilson from Wisconsin witnessed the effects of a massive oil spill along the California coast. In the Spring of 1970, Senator Wilson was motivated to bring attention to the environment and the importance of protecting it and established the first Earth Day. On April 22, 1970, across the United States, “20 million Americans took to streets, parks and auditoriums to demonstrate for a healthy, sustainable environment in massive coast-to-coast rallies.”
The popularity and success of the first Earth Day helped advance national policy. By the end of 1970, Congress enacted legislation to establish the United State Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) as well as the enactment of the Clean Air Act, Clean Water act and Endangered Species Act. Talk about making a difference!
By 1990, Earth Day become a global phenomenon, mobilizing over 200 million people across 141 countries to raise issues of concern in regards to the environment. Currently, 192 countries celebrate Earth Day through the support of the Earth Day Network. While celebrations vary from country to country and even city to city, they include environmental clean-ups, tree plantings, peaceful protests, educational events and fairs, they all have the same goal of raising awareness of sustainable practices to help protect the Earth’s natural environment.
The 50th Anniversary of Earth Day will be celebrated on April 22, 2020. In preparation for this celebration, the Earth Day Network will be launching a series of bold initiatives to galvanize global collaboration. Check out how you can help.
HCIA’s Earth Day Celebration
Hudson County joined the Earth Day phenomenon in 1990 in honor of the 20th Anniversary of National Earth Day. The first Earth Day event was held in Lincoln Park in Jersey City at the Lincoln Monument area. This once small-event saw an increasing number of participants year after year. By 1993, the event outgrew the area by monument and moved the festivities to the Fountain-area. By 1998, the Fair outgrew Lincoln Park and moved to Liberty State Park. It was then that the Earth Day 5K was established.
The HCIA Earth Day event is held rain or shine through the use of the Historic Central Railroad Terminal. Over the 28 years of Earth Day in Hudson County, the event has grown to become the largest and longest running Earth Day in the State with nearly 15,000 annual attendees. Join us this year as we strive to make this year’s our biggest and best yet. See you there!
