Saturday, April 22, 2023 • 11am-2pm

Norwalk Green • 8 Park Street, Norwalk, CT 06851

Enjoy these photos being posted as they arrive, from Saturday’s 2nd annual “Earth Day on The Green”, with event activities listed for posterity below the photo gallery. Remember: When you are connected with the earth, in tune with nature, with reality, you can feel true peace. When an individual is peaceful, you can bring peace to the home. When there is peace in the home, there can be peace in the neighborhood, peace in the city, peace in the nation, and peace in the world. Keep it going!

  • “Earth Day on The Green” was the place to be in Norwalk on Saturday, April 22! (Photo by Bill Wrenn).
  • Welcome to “Earth Day on The Green” 2023! (Photo by Bill Wrenn).
  • “Earth Day on The Green” 2023. (Photo by Tracy Craighead).
  • Kudos to Congressman Jim Himes who arrived to The Green by bike! (Photo by Tracy Craighead).
  • A collaborative effort: 3 sugar maples planted on The Green along East Avenue. Pictured from left, Eleanor Militana and Jalin Sead
    from the First Taxing District Water Department and Mayor Harry Rilling. (Photo by Tracy Craighead).
  • Secretary of the State Stephanie Thomas spoke to the crowd after leading an Earth Day clean-up on Flax Hill. (Photo by Tracy Craighead).
  • The Norwalk Land Trust and Norwalk Garden Club joined forces to host children’s activities. (Photo by Tracy Craighead).
  • Various skills were tested for fun prizes! (Photo by Tracy Craighead).
  • Lots of room for kids to frolic in nature! (Photo by Tracy Craighead).
  • Special guests arrived to delight everyone on The Green. (Photo by Tracy Craighead).
  • Over 35 people walked or biked to The Green “without their machine”. This group followed the Norwalk River Valley Trail.
    Norwalk Bike/Walk Commission chair Tanner Thompson (left) took the selfie.
    Ben Hanpeter is to his right, and in black jacket is Common Councilman Josh Goldstein.
  • Taking public transit was also encouraged on Earth Day, and the Norwalk Transit District gets a big shout-out for this unique Earth Day “wrapping!” We also had Winn-Waste’s recycling trucks parked at The Green. (Photo by Tracy Craighead).
  • Dogs are “earthlings”, too! (Photo by Tracy Craighead).
  • IT TAKES A VILLAGE! A few of the key “Earth Day on The Green” organizers, from left: Tanner Thompson, Diane Lauricella,
    Mary Verel, Tracy Craighead, Audrey Cozzarin, David Shockley, Paul Sotnik, and Brad Craighead.
    Missing: Fr. Daniel Simons, Dave Havens, Laurie Morrison, Nancy Rosett, Betsy Barosky, and Tom Arbron.
  • Norwalk Tree Aliance’s table. (Photo by Tracy Craighead).
  • Norwalk Community College’s Environmental Science Club table. (Photo by Tracy Craighead).
  • Diane Lauricella sets up the Norwalk Zero Waste Coalition table. (Photo by Tracy Craighead).
  • Mike Mushak setting up the colorful flags with organizer Brad Craighead. (Photo by Tracy Craighead).
  • Fr. Daniel Simons of St. Paul’s on the Green Episcopal Church and Rising Stars Performing Arts teens led a community singalong. (Photo by Tracy Craighead).
  • Paul Sotnik, City of Norwalk Dept. of Public Works engineer, instructed families on the fine points of tree planting. (Photo by Tracy Craighead).
  • The kids had a chance to help plant 3 new trees! (Photo by Tracy Craighead).
  • “Earth Day on The Green” organizer Audrey Cozzarin gives the event a thumbs up! (Photo by Tammis Lazarus).
  • Beth Harmon, Executive Director of the Darien Land Trust (left) with Louise Washer, President of the Norwalk River Watershed Association. (Photo by Tammis Lazarus).
  • Phil Chiaia from the Norwalk Bike Co-op helps a cyclist at the mobile bike repair station. (Photo by Tracy Craighead).

Fun in the sun • Walking & Biking Tours • Speakers include U.S. Rep. Jim Himes, Mayor Harry Rilling, Secretary of the State Stephanie Thomas, Sen. Bob Duff, and Other Leaders • Kids’ Activities • Live Birds of Prey • Music • Tree Planting • Native American Readings • “Nature Yoga” • Environmental Groups • Ice Cream • Food Trucks • “Me & D” Acoustic Duo—and more!

Join your neighbors on The Norwalk Green on Sat., April 22, from 11am-2pm, with a wonderful 12 Noon program at the gazebo. The 2nd annual “Earth Day on The Green” 2023 is a free NO WASTE* event featuring fun family-friendly activities, song, “nature yoga”, music, tree planting ceremony, live birds of prey—and more—plus educational and informational tables hosted by Norwalk’s amazing and dedicated environmental groups. All “Earthlings” invited! *A Low-Waste Event encourages all attendees and participants to make efforts to reduce or eliminate waste by using receptacles provided or carry out whatever you bring in! Scroll down for parking info.

FREE RAFFLE PRIZES!

Ways to “Get to the Norwalk Green without your machine!” Walk or bike with a guided tour and leave your car behind:

“HISTORIC WALKING TOUR”: Join guide Nancy Rosett from the Norwalk River Valley Trail departing from City Hall (meet at Sunset Hill Ave. entrance) at 10:30am, for a walking tour along the Harbor Loop up to the Mill Hill historic herb garden, then to the Green for Earth Day festivities.

“WALL STREET WALKING TOUR”: Join Jim Travers, Director of the City of Norwalk Department of Transporation, Mobility & Parking for a guided walking tour along Wall Street! Departing from Norwalk Library (corner of Belden Ave. and Mott St.) at 10:45am, walk along Wall Street and up historic Lewis Street to The Green.

“SONO BIKE TOUR”: Join guide Common Council member Josh Goldstein for a bike ride from South Norwalk to The Green. Departing from South Norwalk Library at 11:00am. Ride on the Norwalk River Valley Trail up to the new section at Belden Ave., along the new Harbor Loop trail to Wall St. and up to The Green.

“EAST NORWALK BIKE TOUR”: Join Brian Boland from Norwalk Bike Co-op for a bike tour through East Norwalk. Depart from East Norwalk Train Station (south side) at 11:00am and meet at the new train-shaped bike rack. Ride on Osborne Ave. to Selleck St., under I-95, up Hendricks Ave., over the Yankee Doodle Bridge.

“NEW NRVT TRAIL BIKE TOUR”: Join Nick Pappas, bike-walk advocate, for a bike tour along Riverside Avenue to experience the newest section of the Norwalk River Valley Trail. Depart at 11:00am from parking lot adjacent to/north of Casatelli Marble.

Participating groups include: Norwalk Land Trust; St. Paul’s on the Green; KEEP NORWALK BEAUTIFUL; Norwalk River Valley Trail; Norwalk Garden Club; Norwalk Green Association; Norwalk Bike/Walk Commission; Norwalk Bike Co-op; First Congregational Church; Norwalk River Watershed Association; City of Norwalk Transportation, Mobility & Parking; Norwalk Transit District; City of Norwalk Department of Public Works; Park Norwalk; Norwalk Zero Waste Coalition; Norwalk Community College Environmental Science Club; First Taxing District; Norwalk Historical Society; Norwalk Health Department; Norwalk Tree Alliance; City Hall Neighborhood Association; Wall Street Neighborhood Association; Rising Stars Performing Arts; Coastal Connecticut Times; Organic Ways and Means; Our New Garden; Winn-Waste; Fodor Farm Gardeners; Bee hives and MORE!

Norwalk Transit District’s special “Earth Day” Bus Shuttle will be parked at The Green!

PARKING INFO: Free parking is available on Lewis Street; 7 Park Street; St. Paul’s on the Green; and the First Congregational Church.

Enjoy a view of last year’s “Earth Day” event 2022 (Photos by Nancy Chapman, NancyonNorwalk.com):

“Earth Day on the Green” 2022 brought together approx. 250 Norwalkers!
The Norwalk Land Trust featured fun children’s activities.
“Earth Day” organizer Audrey Cozzarin led those gathered in “nature yoga” to get grounded. We enjoyed bare feet!
The City of Norwalk’s Department of Public Works planted a native dogwood on Park St., across the street from the Green.
The drum circle created a powerful atmosphere following the noon program.
Common Council member Josh Goldstein, center, Bike/Walk Commissioner Tanner Thompson, right, and friend biked to the Green.
Norwalk’s Wednesday Atoms delivered the Native American address during the noon program.
Common Council members Tom Livingston and Lisa Shanahan at Earth Day 2022.
Norwalk Community College Environmental Science Club students share a children’s seed planting activity.
“Harry The Heron”, a giant sculpture on loan from the Norwalk Land Trust, made a surprise landing, amidst bubbles!