Earth Day Celebration went ‘swimmingly’ on Saturday in Tarzana

The 13th annual Earth Day Celebration on Saturday at the Tarzana Recreation Center included “going green” exhibits and a display of posters with the theme “Turn the Tide, Sea the Change!” created by local students.

The ecology-minded event included a free tree giveaway from the Los Angeles Conservation Corps, as well as information booths reprsenting:

• California Wildlife Center
• DarkSky, an anti-light pollution advocacy group
• Los Angeles Animal Services
• Department of Water and Power
• Los Angeles Sanitation & Environment
• San Fernando Valley Climate Reality Project
• Santa Monica Mountains Fund
• Shift Our Ways Collective, an urban agriculture organization with farms in Arleta and Reseda
• TreePeople

Arts and crafts, bounce and climb activities were popular with children. The free gathering included live music and refreshments for purchase from food trucks.

The event was presented by the West Valley Warner Center Chamber of Commerce Community Benefit Foundation, the Tarzana Neighborhood Council, Los Angeles Recreation and Parks and 3rd District Los Angeles City Councilmember Bob Blumenfield’s office.

The event was held at the Tarzana Recreation Center, 5655 Vanalden Ave.

Earth Day, April 22, has been observed nationally since the first Earth Day was held on that date in 1970.