Celebrating Earth Day: Reading’s Big Green Bash

Reading welcomed its 36th Earth Day in City Park with a lively mix of learning and fun that showed how the town cares for nature. The city teamed up with a local nonprofit to pull together workshops, music and hands‑on activities that invited everyone from kids to grandparents. The event grew year after year, turning the park into one of Pennsylvania’s biggest green gatherings. The day began early with volunteers from Alvernia University clearing storm drains as part of a city cleanup drive. By noon, the mayor’s proclamation and a special tree planting drew crowds to watch a native oak be rooted in the earth. A local Native American artist offered a blessing that reminded people of an old promise between settlers and the land’s first peoples, urging respect for everything that grows.Council members used the platform to echo a state law from 1971 that says all residents have the right to clean air and water. They highlighted how city projects—like a solar roof over City Hall and an electric truck that ran the event’s speakers—show real steps toward cleaner energy. The city also opened its newly renovated greenhouse to the public, where fresh vegetables were handed out to a food bank. Exhibitors lined the park with booths on recycling, wildlife care and eco‑friendly habits. Families played a scavenger hunt game that guided them to each stall, making learning interactive for children. Live music filled the air from a high school jazz band to folk and Native American performers, adding rhythm to the day’s message of stewardship. Throughout the celebration, officials stressed that protecting nature is a shared duty. They urged residents to take small actions—like planting trees, reducing waste or supporting local green projects—that add up over time. The event ended with a sense of community pride and a clear reminder that everyday choices shape the planet’s future.