Title
Commemorating the 54th anniversary of Earth Day on April 22, 2024, proclaiming April 20, 2024 as Earth Day Challenge Day, and endorsing and encouraging citizen participation in the clean-up events at City of Madison Parks.
Body
WHEREAS, on April 22, 1970 the first Earth Day was celebrated with participation by approximately 20 million Americans who focused on environmental stewardship. It was founded by U.S. Senator Gaylord Nelson of Wisconsin and marked the beginning of the modern environmental movement. Earth Day has been celebrated each year since with an ever growing number of people volunteering their services for various environmental causes throughout the United States. Citizens in the City of Madison have also had a long-standing tradition of expressing their civic pride by helping out with environmental cleanup projects; and
WHEREAS, the City of Madison Parks Division and the Madison Board of Park Commissioners recognize there has been substantial volunteer citizen support for the parks system in the past and encourage future volunteer support by citizens who share common environmental goals. They also recognize that the Parks Division has received substantial support from many of the city‘s Neighborhood Associations and Friends of various parks groups, volunteering hundreds of hours to clean up city parks and open spaces.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Mayor and the Common Council hereby proclaim April 20, 2024 as the City of Madison Parks Division's Earth Day Challenge Day and to encourage volunteer citizen participation in cleanup events in city parks and open spaces; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the City of Madison Parks Division, the Mayor, and Common Council extend their gratitude for the volunteer help and support provided by the various neighborhood associations, friends groups and citizens of Madison for their cleanup efforts and environmental stewardship in city parks throughout the year; and
BE IT FINALLY RESOLVED That the Mayor and Common Council declare that April 22nd be celebrated as Earth Day 2024, and honor Gaylord Nelson for his environmental initiatives as the founder of Earth Day.