With Earth Day arriving April 22, Brookfield Zoo Chicago is celebrating the commemoration with celebrations of environmental awareness and action with an Earth Day Run and a recycling collection event dubbed Party for the Planet.
At Party for the Planet, the zoo will collect items from people with too much stuff in their basements and garages who want to dispose of them in the an environmentally responsible way. The zoo will be accepting electronics, textiles and secondhand books for recycling April 20, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.
The Earth Day Run is a 2.2-mile stroll along the trails of the zoo April 21 before it welcomes visitors for the day. Each participant who registers will receive an Earth Day Run commemorative medal and a packet of seeds to spread across their garden at their house and have flowers pop up as a special memento of the event.
Vice President of Marketing and Communications for Brookfield Zoo Chicago Leah Rippe said that many animals are on the brink of extinction because of habitat destruction and resource depletion.
“Recycling helps conserve natural resources, such as water and energy. It also helps reduce pollution by reducing the amount of waste that ends up in landfills or pollutes the environment. By reducing pollution, recycling helps maintain a healthy environment for animals to thrive,” Rippe said.
With the race, Rippe said the zoo wanted to do something to raise awareness for Earth Day. The first year the Earth Day Run was 2022.
“It is nice to come to the zoo to experience a run with different seasons, and we have not hosted a running event in the spring before. It is a good way to see the spring bloom, with animals on the run, all while raising awareness for Earth Day,” Rippe said.
Rippe said that runners may pass by Brutus and Titus, the lion brothers, and catch a glimpse of the bison. Spectators can gather near the carousel and friends and family are also encouraged to stand and cheer on the participants.
The fun run aligns with Brookfield Zoo’s mission and values of connecting people to wildlife and nature.
“What better way to get out and run among nature, with the beautiful trees and experiencing the magnificent animals. It’s about making those connections. There are numerous ways to make connections, whether you’re coming to the zoo for a casual day or bringing your friends for a day out and connecting with nature while interacting with friends and family,” Rippe said. “Most people don’t know that we sit on 235 acres, providing a unique perspective to see the 2.2 miles within the expanse of the zoo.”
Rippe said that the fun run is open to everyone of all ages. A ticket to participate in the run is $35. A DJ will also be playing music after the run.
According to Rippe, the funds raised for this fun run will contribute to the zoo’s conservation program and support animals not just locally, but across the globe as well, ensuring the continued support of the program.
Rippe said that the zoo is always looking for seasonal events to help patrons visit all year.
When the zoo hosted this recycling event last year, Rippe said that they calculated the number of pounds of items that were collected.
“Last year we recycled 7,000 pounds of electronics, 11,000 pounds of books and 5,000 pounds of textiles. When you see those numbers that are staggering, imagine what that would look like in a landfill,” Rippe said.
Visit Brookfield Zoo Chicago’s website for more information on how to register for the run and the recycling event. A full list of what items they’ll accept for donations is on the website.
