(Miami, FL) Mayor Diaz and the City of Miami are celebrating Earth Day throughout the Month of April this year, with free events and volunteer opportunities for the whole family. From community gardens in Liberty City to a Green Fair at Bayfront Park, from an Arbor Day tree planting in Little Haiti to Bike Miami Days in Coconut Grove, residents and visitors to the City of Miami are invited to “Go Green”.

“This month presents a great opportunity for Miami residents to become educated in ways that they can be more involved in helping their environment,” said Mayor Manny Diaz. “Is is our responsibility to take care of the Earth and to leave behind a better planet for our children and grandchildren.”

Earth Day is celebrated around the world on April 22. Since 1970, this annual event has brought people together and renewed their commitment to a safer, healthier and cleaner planet. The City of Miami invites residents and neighbors to Earth Month events providing educational, volunteer and entertainment activities for the whole family.

Here’s how individuals, businesses and organizations can participate in Earth Day 2009: 

One Person, Ten Steps, Ten Tons: http://miamigov.com/msi/pages/Recycling/10Tons.pdf

April Earth Day events will take place across the City and throughout the month, including:

Event: Community Garden Dedication
Date: April 1 (Wednesday)
Time: 12:00 pm
Location: Liberty Square Housing Development, 65 Street NW at 14th Avenue, Miami, Fla.
Summary: City of Miami is one of five cities nationally to receive a grant to create a community edible garden. Keep Miami Beautiful, Miami-Dade County Public Housing Agency, the Liberty Square Housing Development have partnered City of Miami to bring the Scotts GroGood program to Miami.

Event: Mayor Diaz Proclaims April Water Conservation Month
Date: April 2 (Thursday)
Time: 9:00am
Location: City Hall Meeting of the City Commission, 3500 Pan American Drive
Summary: Please call 305.250.5323 for more information.

Event: Miami River Day
Date: April 4 (Saturday)
Time: 11:00am– 4:00pm
Location: Jose Marti Park, SW 4th Ave & SW 4th St
Summary: Learn to live green at Jose Marti Park. Featuring live music, rides, environmental education and kids activities.
http://www.miamirivercommission.org/RiverdayEventFlyer.html

Event: Gateway to Green
Date: April 8 (Wednesday)
Time:  7:30am-5:00pm
Location: Jungle Island
Summary: Join Mayor Manny Diaz, the City of Miami, and Dream-in-Green for the first annual Gateway to Green green vendor fair at Jungle Island. Featuring over 50 exhibitors; a keynote address by Rick Fedrizzi, President of the US Green Building Council; panels on selling green and financing green; unique networking opportunities; and a discussion of impacts of climate change on South Florida.
http://www.miamigov.com/msi/pages/gatewaytogreen/

Event: Baynanza
Date: April 18 (Saturday)
Time:  9:00am-12:00pm
Locations: Throughout the City and County
Summary: Participate in the County's largest annual beach clean up at over 25 locations. Volunteers needed. Email Vanessa Thomas at vthomas@miamigov.com for more information.

Event: Comstock Tree Planting
Date: April 21 (Tuesday)
Time: Tree Planting begins at 8:30am; PressConference at 10:30am
Location: Comstock Elementary, 2420 NW 18th Ave
Summary: The City of Miami and Miami Dade Schools will plant 50 trees at Comstock Elementary in the neighborhood of Allapattah and distribute trees to another 50 schools around the City. Please email Vivianne Bohorques, Office of the Mayor at vbohorques@miamigov.com for more information.

Event: Miami Aims to Break Guinness World Record for Largest Procession of Alt-Fuel Motor Vehicles
Date: April 22 (Wednesday)
Time: 7:00pm departure
Location: Bayfront Park
Summary: If you have a Green vehicle, joins us as we break the Guinness World Record for the largest all alternative fuel procession. If your vehicle is clean (Hybrids, Electric, Biodiesel, Solar, etc), then come on board! Led by Mayor Diaz, the procession will start at Bayfront Park in Downtown Miami, run South on Biscayne Boulevard, historic Brickell and Bayshore Drives, and end at  City Hall. Each participant in the event will receive a free t-shirt and Official Certificate showing their participation in the World Record. The Record is currently held by Australia with 135 cars, but Miami can break it. Participants MUST REGISTER at http://miamigoingreen.com/worldrecord.php.

Event: City of Miami Arbor Day Celebration
Date: April 24 (Friday)
Time:  Registration: 7:30-8:00, Planting from 8:00-11:00, followed by lunch
Location: Little Haiti
Summary: The City of Miami will plant 200 trees in the Little Haiti neighborhood. Please email amontalvo@miamigov.com for more information.

Event: Miami Goin’ Green
Date: April 25 (Saturday)
Time:  10:00am-7:00pm
Location: Bayfront Park
Summary: An ecofriendly event for the entire family at Bayfront Park, with live entertainment, hands on activities and resources for everything green. The fun, outdoor setting will offer two open stages that will showcase live performances and seminars. The event will operate on 100% alternative fuel with solar-power and bio-diesel generators. Recycling stations throughout the park will be manned by our “Green Team” to help educate visitors on how to properly recycle and dispose of their waste. In addition to traditional recycling, there will also be Tech-Recycling stations to collect unused tech items such as old batteries, cell phones, computers and monitors. http://miamigoingreen.com/

Event: Fun in the Sun Youth Fest
Date: April 25 (Saturday)
Time: 12 noon -4:00pm
Location: Virginia Key Beach Park, 4020 Virginia Beach Drive, Miami, FL 33149
Summary: Celebrate Earth Day at Historic Virginia Key Beach Park with family fun activities, including:
•      Dance, Dance Revolution & Madden Tournaments
•      Sea Grass Adventures & Eco-History Tours
•      Cooking Demonstrations
•      Live Entertainment, Vendor Booths
•      Great Prizes & Give-a-Ways

For more information, call 305-960-4600 or visit http://www.virginiakeybeachpark.net/
Event: Bike Miami Days: Explore Your City in a New Way
Partners: City of Miami, Hands On Miami, Consulate of the Netherlands, Honor Roll Music, and more
Date: April 26 (Sunday)
Time: 9:00am-2:00pm
Location: Coconut Grove (full map available at bikemiamiblog.wordpress.com/map)
Summary: Bike Miami Days, the monthly event promoting cycling/walking/skating, livable streets and community, comes to the Grove with ecofriendly activities for the entire family, including live music, hands on activities and resources for kids, the City’s first ever Orange Bicycle Parade led by the Consulate of the Netherlands, and the first annual Hands On Miami Volunteer Fair. Picnic in the park, explore the Grove on foot, watch a regatta on the Bay, and enjoy the Miami waterfront.
http://Bike-Miami.com