Earth Day Cleanup and Beautification
Where: Questa Municipal Park, Eagle Rock Lake & Questa Village Center
When: Wednesday, April 16,
Time: 9 a.m. – 2 p.m.
Who: Everyone welcome!
Cost: Free
Info: Facebook + www.LEAPsite.org
Village of Questa: (575) 586-0694
Questa Junior-Senior High School: Santana Santistevan, (575) 779-5601
LEAP: Claire Coté, (575) 224-9066
The first Earth Day was celebrated 55 years ago on April 22, 1970. This day of education and action was created by U.S. Senator Gaylord Nelson, to mark the importance of keeping our planet healthy and clean, and for people to renew their commitment to make positive changes in their communities. According to nelsonearthday.net, Senator Nelson suggested April 22, a Wednesday, as an ideal day to hold the teach-in, as a weekday event would mean students would be involved.
On the first Earth Day, Nelson spoke to a large crowd in Denver, Colorado: “Our goal is not just an environment of clean air and water and scenic beauty. The objective is an environment of decency, quality, and mutual respect for all other human beings and all other living creatures,” Nelson said.
Today we are continuing to work toward Gaylord’s vision in Questa with students at the core of the Community Connection Day event. Community Connection Days are collaborative, intergenerational days of community give-back and celebration in and around Questa, initiated in 2021 by LEAP (Land, Experience, and Art of Place, a local non-profit) and collaborators.
These gatherings are an opportunity to care for and improve our public spaces, and envision together what we want for our community while connecting with friends and making new ones. LEAP has been hosting collaborative Earth Day events in Questa Since 2015. The first one was a multimedia youth art event held at the previous community space, OCHO, in downtown Questa.
The day will include three locations: the Village center, around Eagle Rock Lake, and at the Questa Municipal Park.
Garden bed improvement and trash pickup will take place in the center of town and around Eagle Rock Lake, led by students and members of the Taos County Solid Waste department.
At the Questa Municipal Park there will be trash pickup, invasive plant species removal, irrigation repair, and more, led by LEAP.
Meet up at 9 a.m.
Volunteers are invited to meet to start the day’s work at the Questa Park at 9 a.m. Lunch for you will be provided midday. Bring a water bottle, hat and sun protection, and if you have them, work gloves and yard cleaning tools; we’ll have additional tools and trash cleanup supplies on hand as well. Be sure to wear clothing in layers for weather changes.
We look forward to beautifying Questa with you on Wednesday, April 16! Let’s come together with thousands of other communities around the world to celebrate Earth Day and community connections.
The Earth Day cleanup this year is in solidarity with the Village of Questa Beautification Committee’s efforts and spring cleaning efforts.
Apart from April 16, the Village of Questa will provide rollaway dumpsters for disposal of large items. They will be offering green waste and tire collection. You can join in these Village of Questa Cleanup Days for two weekends: Friday, April 25 from 1 to 3:30 pm and Saturday, April 26 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.—and the same hours the following weekend of May 2 and 3.
Thank you
This year’s effort is made possible by collaborators from Questa Junior-Senior High School Honor Society, Taos County Solid Waste, LEAP, Village of Questa, Localogy, and community volunteers.
LEAP’s cleanup and beautification efforts at the Questa Municipal Park is funded by Chevron Grants for Good through the Taos Community Foundation as well as individual donors.
