Harrisburg, state officials display birdhouses made by local students, at a press conference in Reservoir Park.
On a crisp, sunny day in Reservoir Park, Harrisburg officials recognized the importance of caring for the earth.
Mayor Wanda Williams, along with local and state officials, celebrated Earth Day with a press conference on Monday highlighting the city’s environmental efforts.
“We have made it a priority to make Harrisburg cleaner and greener than ever before,” Williams said. “Protecting our environment is so much more than just throwing away trash or preventing harmful materials from getting into the atmosphere. It is making sure everyone and everything around us has a safe place to live as well.”
The city announced that Lights Out Harrisburg will return for the third year in an attempt to help save migrating birds. The initiative encourages businesses and residents to turn off exterior lights during the night, to prevent birds from getting confused by the bright light and colliding with windows. Lights Out began on April 1 and runs through May 31 for the spring migratory season. The program will then resume for the fall migration from Aug. 15 to Nov. 15.
According to Zach Richard, president of the Appalachian Audubon Society, over 1 billion birds die each year from window collisions.
“Your participation helps protect migratory birds,” Richard said.
Many local organizations plan to participate in Lights Out, such as Harristown Development Corp. and the Harrisburg Downtown Improvement District, as well as the commonwealth, which will turn off lights in the Capitol dome from 12 a.m. to 6 a.m. during migratory seasons.
Williams also noted several other environmentally focused initiatives, including current dredging at Italian Lake to clean out dirt and debris and spring tree plantings around the city. The city’s Parks and Recreation Department also partnered with the Harrisburg School District to help fifth grade students at Melrose Elementary learn about wildlife and make their own birdhouses for city parks.
The city, along with the Appalachian Audubon Society, is also hosting several bird walks in city parks for local families on dates in April through June.
Parks and Recreation Department officials also noted that its free summer enrichment programming for city youth will begin on June 10 and include swimming, field trips, environmental awareness education, sports and many other activities.
“We believe that giving the youth the right tools in order to foster environmental stewardship with lead into their futures,” said Danielle Lewis, Harrisburg’s sustainability coordinator.
For more information about Lights Out Harrisburg, visit their website. To find out more about Harrisburg’s events and summer programming, visit their website.
If you like what we do, please support our work. Become a Friend of TheBurg!
