Earth Day celebration is among the County’s largest and most popular cyclical events. Each year, Miami-Dade Parks, in partnership with the Parks Foundation, hosts the community at a different park where parks staff and volunteers focus on park cleanups, invasive plant removal, planting of native vegetation and trees to preserve the natural environment. Yearly staples of Park’s Earth Day celebrations include a fun zone and Eco Village with nature-based exhibits, where visitors can take home sustainable giveaways, including free orchids and native tree species for planting in their own backyards, as a way to increase the County’s tree canopy. In 2024, for example, the event featured a variety of environmental, educational, and conservation activities with a focus on restoring Larry and Penny Thompson Park’s Pine Rockland. As part of the celebrations, parks staff help educate participating families about simple steps they can take to be better environmental stewards, such as composting organic waste while cooking or choosing to bike or walk instead of driving.
“Earth Day reminds us that every day is an opportunity to honor and nurture our precious environment,” said Miami-Dade County Mayor Daniella Levine Cava at this year’s event. “Together, we celebrate the beauty, diversity, and resilience of our planet, while recognizing our collective responsibility to safeguard it, and cultivate a sustainable future for today and generations to come.”