March 18, 2015
Contact:
Doug Bolnick, Community Health Public Information Officer, (636) 949-7408
Nancy Gomer, Parks Marketing Coordinator, (636) 949-7646
St. Charles County, Missouri – The world will recognize the 45th Anniversary of Earth Day this year, celebrating the theme “It’s Our Turn To Lead” and encouraging activities that protect or preserve the environment through efficient use of resources. To extend that leadership initiative to St. Charles County, the Division of Environmental Health and Protection will partner with the Department of Parks and Recreation to observe Earth Day locally on Saturday, April 25, with a fun, free event for those of all ages.
“Earth Day offers a tremendous opportunity to reflect on ways that individuals and groups can help to make our community better,” Division Director Ryan Tilley said. “In addition to improving our surroundings and conserving resources, recycling materials and re-using goods boost local economies and saves money.”
Held at St. Charles County’s Broemmelsiek Park, the Earth Day celebration will run from 9 a.m. to noon. St. Charles County residents may participate in a free electronics recycling collection, led by Recycle Works Central and Recycle Works West. Hands-on activities planned include craft projects created using recycled material, games, educational demonstrations and a hike guided by park rangers. Additionally, the Boone Country Garden Club of Defiance welcomes guests to join them in a seed and plant swap, where materials from local gardens may be traded. Lastly, the Parks Department encourages participants and interested volunteers to join several beautification projects — including garden planting at the Agricultural Area in the park. For information or to register as a volunteer, please call the Parks Department at (636) 949-7535 or the Division of Environmental Health and Protection at (636) 949-1800.
“Promoting the importance of conserving natural resources was a fundamental concern for the Broemmelsiek family, for whom this park is named,” Parks Director Bettie Yahn-Kramer said. “Hosting our Earth Day event at this County park provides the perfect setting for our staffs to interact with the community as we discuss ways to improve our surroundings.”
Broemmelsiek Park is located at 1795 Highway DD, approximately four miles southwest of Highway 40/61. Educational programs, arts projects, the guided hike and the Plant Swap will begin at the Lakeside Picnic Shelter, and participants should enter the park using the new Highway DD entrance. The electronics recycling collection will be at a site along the main driveway near the Visitors’ Center. The volunteer planting projects will begin at the new Agricultural Area along the park’s Schwede Road entrance.
St. Charles County’s Recycle Works centers accept a wide variety of materials that are not always collected by curbside recycling programs. For this special Earth Day electronics recycling collection, all types of electronics will be accepted at no cost (please only bring electronic items to this collection – other material is routinely accepted at the Recycle Works locations in St. Charles and Wentzville). Participants should place material in the trunk of their vehicle, and staff will remove it during the collection. If you have questions about this special recycling collection, please call (636) 949-1800.
In addition to the many fun activities offered, St. Charles County’s Earth Day celebration presents a look at the Phase Three development undergone at Broemmelsiek Park. Officially opening to the public at a dedication later this spring, this new construction features a day-use Visitors’ Center that may be reserved for small events, a spacious Group Picnic Area accommodating up to 300 guests, a large lakeside pavilion and a historic agriculture area presenting an interpretive discovery highlighting the history of agriculture in this community. For more information on this 494-acre park, please visit http://www.sccmo.org/617/Broemmelsiek-Park.
Throughout the year, the Division of Environmental Health and Protection works with area businesses and organizations to promote healthy conditions in our community. To learn how the division helps to ensure public safety, please call (636) 949-1800 or visit http://www.sccmo.org/760/Environmental-Division.
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