Hundreds of volunteers cleaning up Chicago parks to prepare for Earth Day

CHICAGO (WLS) -- Cleanup efforts kicked off across Chicago on Saturday ahead of Earth Day later this month.

The Chicago Park District hosted cleanup efforts at the city's parks with hundreds of volunteers.

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It is all happening as part of the 41st annual Earth Day Cleanup. More than 190 park sites citywide are being spruced up and beautified.

A cleanup event took place in Wicker Park on Saturday.

"Are people more environmentally aware, and that's another thing that they're doing here," Wicker Park board member Mary Tamminga said.

Roughly 750 volunteers are coming together to pick up garbage, lay mulch around trees, and shore up playground surfaces.

"Public parks thrive when the public gets involved and helps out and we want to be in a clean park," said John Shirk with the Wicker Park Advisory Council. "We bring our kids here for picnics."

Several other city agencies, along with a few community groups that have adopted park sites, are participating, too.

The Chicago Park District has recruited site captains to facilitate clean ups by supplying trash bags, shovels, gloves, and materials, so people of all ages can beautify their neighborhood park by picking up trash and evening cleaning up graffiti.

"Humans are copycat sometimes, so if you see someone doing good things in the park other people catch on, and that's why we have 250 volunteers to help here in Wicker," volunteer Ryan Ruggarde said.

There was even a Girl Scout Troop participating, hoping to make a difference.

"This is something that people say if you're a part of a community its part of your responsibility to not just take from it, but to also give back to it," volunteer Heather Eaton said.

Saturday's activities also included a speaking program featuring local representatives.

The cleanup initiative will culminate next weekend with a citywide effort.

The world celebrates Earth Day every year on April 22.