Photo: Surasak Suwanmake / Moment / Getty Images
LOS ANGELES (CNS) - Gatherings were taking place across the Southland this weekend to mark Monday's Earth Day, the annual event demonstrating support for environmental protection.
Friends of the Los Angeles River are holding an annual cleanup that traditionally attracts thousands of participants who volunteer to pick up trash, take part in habitat-restoration projects and nature walks. The two-day event began at 8 a.m. Saturday at the Sepulveda Basin Wildlife Preserve, and will continue at noon Sunday at Lewis MacAdams Riverfront Park.
At Griffith Park, the city of Los Angeles Department of Recreation and Parks teamed up with the Friends of Griffith Park and the Los Angeles Parks Foundation for an Earth Day celebration at the Griffith Park Bird Sanctuary at 2900 N. Vermont Ave.
The event included park rangers discussing fire safety and other conservation efforts, along with volunteers from Climate Resolve and City Plants participating in a day of planting native plants, cleaning out catch basins and removing invasive plants.
Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass joined members of the community in removing invasive species and planting native plants at Griffith Park, which officials called the largest municipal park with urban wilderness area in the United States.
"The climate crisis is one of the greatest challenges of our time, and it requires us to not only work to transform our city, but also to transform the way we address this crisis," Bass said in a statement. "Only together can we really curb the impacts of climate change and make Los Angeles a greener, more sustainable and resilient city for the future."
Councilwoman Nithya Raman and Recreation and Parks General Manager Jimmy Kim also discussed the department's efforts to cultivate an environmentally sustainable park system.
The Los Angeles Zoo launched Project Pollinator at 10 a.m. Saturday. The initiative will install native plant gardens, conduct habitat restoration and turf replacement projects that restore natural habitat for local wildlife and migratory species passing through Southern California.
The Project Pollinator headquarters has been refurbished to facilitate educational programming and guide visitors in learning about the challenges facing native pollinators and how they can help by supporting native biodiversity by starting a native garden or potted plant area at their homes.
Hawthorne held its Earth Day Celebration on Saturday at Hawthorne Memorial Park, 3901 W. El Segundo Blvd. The event features local service providers offering paper shredding, e-waste collection, compost giveaways, a raffle, and food and eco-friendly goodies from local vendors.
A Los Angeles Waterkeeper cleanup event at the L.A. River took place Saturday at North Atwater Park, 3900 Chevy Chase Drive. Volunteers helped clear away debris left in the aftermath of a rainy winter.
Panorama City held its community cleanup Saturday at Casa Esperanza, 14705 Blythe St.
The Department of Parks and Recreation is also celebrating Earth Day with an event at two locations. At 6:30 p.m. Saturday, a panel discussion will feature environmental experts, followed by a screening of the documentary "Common Ground" with free popcorn at both Whittier Narrows Recreation Area Picnic Area, 1210 Lerma Road, and Kenneth Hahn State Park Recreation Area, 4100 S. La Cienega Blvd.
Saturday events will also include a beach cleanup along Santa Monica Beach at noon at Crescent Bay Park, 2000 Ocean Ave.
On Monday, LA Metro is offering free rides on its bus, rail, bike share and Metro Micro services. All Metro buses and trains will be free to the public beginning at 3 a.m. Monday until 2:59 a.m. Tuesday.
Bus fare boxes will be deactivated, and all train station fare gates will be opened. Metro Bike Share users can redeem free 30-minute rides by selecting "1-Ride" at any Metro Bike Share kiosk, online or in the Metro Bike Share app by entering the promo code 042224. A credit or debit card is required. The first 30 minutes of all rides are free. Rides longer than 30 minutes are $1.75 each additional half-hour. Electric Metro Bike unlocking fees are waived.
Metro Micro customers can redeem free rides on Metro's on-demand electric rideshare service by using the Metro Micro app or browser and entering code EarthDay24. The promo code will be available during regular operating hours for Metro's Call Center (323-GoMetro or 323-466-3876) from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m.
"Every Day is Earth Day at L.A. Metro," Metro CEO Stephanie Wiggins said. "Transit is the cleanest way to travel, and by using our electric trains and low-emission buses, you can lower your carbon footprint by 45% compared to driving. This Earth Day, we encourage Angelenos to take a free ride on Metro, leave the car at home and enjoy everything L.A. County has to offer."
At 10 a.m. Monday, Long Beach Mayor Rex Richardson and other city officials will flip a ceremonial switch to turn on solar canopies that were recently installed on top of the two parking structures at Long Beach Airport.
For Earth Day, at 3 p.m. Monday, L.A. County Library will host an Author Talk featuring Board of Supervisors Chair Lindsey Horvath and Rosanna Xia, environmental reporter for the Los Angeles Times. West Hollywood Library, 625 N. San Vicente Blvd.
And at 7:30 p.m. Monday, the Santa Monica Pier's solar-powered Ferris wheel will "go green" by displaying, in lights, a 90-foot-tall spinning globe, along with a variety of green and blue colors, patterns and icons.