Downtown to mark Earth Day with block party

TROY, N. Y. » Downtown Troy is celebrating Earth Day with a block party on Fulton Street in the city’s urban core.

All are invited to an afternoon with newly planted trees, music, food and fun, in support of a sustainable downtown district.

The first- ever Earth Day Block Party is scheduled for 2 to 5 p. m. on Saturday on Fulton Street, between Fourth and Fifth streets, in downtown Troy.

The event, hosted by Downtown Troy Business Improvement District, will feature Earth Day- themed activities, live music by Oobleck, face painting, balloon animals, environmentally-friendly vendors, informational tables, plants for sale, local food, and beverages by Hudson- Chatham Winery.

Members of the local community and visitors alike are encouraged to join in celebrating Earth Day in the Collar City. The familyfriendly festival is free to attend, with a suggested donation of $ 10 toward the BID’s ongoing Raise . Plant . Grow tree initiative raising funds to plant as many as to 150 trees throughout downtown Troy to help grow its urban tree canopy. To date, the effort has raised $ 23,000 of its $ 75,000 goal.

Leading up to Earth Day, the BID is kicking off the planting phase of the Raise. Plant. Grow initiative by filling a group of empty tree wells along Fulton Street, on the same block as the party.

The Earth Day Block Party is meant to be a chance for friends, neighbors and supporters to celebrate Earth Day together.

“This year the Downtown Troy BID will host our annual Raise . Plant . Grow fundraiser during Earth Day in order to celebrate as a community, and raise awareness for the initiative to plant up to 150 trees in downtown Troy,” said Katie Hammon, executive director of the Downtown Troy Business Improvement District. “Earth Day is a celebration of our city, community, neighbors, businesses, students, and families coming together to clean up our neighborhoods and breathe new life following a long winter. As many individuals will be volunteering in the morning, we encourage our neighbors and lovers of all things Troy to celebrate their hard work with live music and family fun at the Earth Day Block Party! Not only will the block party be a great way to engage with your community, it is also a kick off of the planting for our Raise . Plant . Grow tree program! We are incredibly excited to plant four trees on this block of Fulton Street, and start the process in growing our urban tree canopy.”

The Earth Day Block Party is sponsored by Monolith Solar and planting of the trees by Constable Tree Service.

More information about downtown Troy, the BID and its other upcoming events is available online at DowntownTroy.org.

To learn more about the Raise . Plant . Grow program or to donate, visit www. downtowntroy.org/ bid- foundation.