Month: April 2022

With spring in full bloom and Earth Day upon us, now is the perfect time to appreciate the planet for all its beauty and be reminded of sustainable practices to keep it looking clean for generations to come. While volunteering to pick up trash on the side of the road, collecting recyclables and planting flowers are all popular Earth Day activities, there’s so much more that we can do to help protect and restore our planet the other 364 days of the year. You can load up on ideas as the oldest and largest Earth Day Festival in the Midwest returns to the Muny Grounds in Forest Park this weekend on April 23-24.

The St. Louis Earth Day Festival provides area residents the unique opportunity to learn about sustainable products and services offered by local businesses and organizations, meet local area non-profits that share Earth Day values, as well as enjoy local entertainment and the best eats from Green Dining Alliance restaurants. This year will also feature rock climbing, yoga with the Collective STL, concerts by Fire Dog and Sharon Bear, a bird show from the World Bird Sanctuary and an awards presentation to recognize leadership in areas of utmost importance: climate, food, waste, education and environmental justice.

The Earth Day Challenge is another great way the festival is working to make the experience even more sustainable for attendees. Individuals are encouraged to use sustainable methods of transportation to get to and from the festival, such as riding transit, walking, biking or carpooling; bring a refillable water bottle or reusable bag; commit to starting a compost bin or service for household food scraps; and try a vegetarian or vegan meal option at the festival. By completing at least two of the four tasks, festival-goers will have successfully completed the Earth Day Challenge and be entered into a raffle for the chance to win various prizes. Some of the prizes include a Big Muddy Adventures canoe trip for two and $25 guide shop gift card; an overnight stay at Union Station with (4) combo tickets to the St. Louis Aquarium, Wheel, etc.; a Missouri Botanical Garden membership package; a BWorks Bicycle with a helmet, lock, tire pump, and light kit; Trailnet gift basket; and much more.

For more information on the St. Louis Earth Day Festival, click here. To learn more about the link between living greener and our air quality, visit the Clean Air Partnership website, like us on Facebook, or follow us on Twitter at @gatewaycleanair.

As the St. Louis Cardinals prepare to return to Busch Stadium on Thursday, thousands of baseball fans will flock to the streets of downtown St. Louis to celebrate the highly anticipated home opener. While there will be lots of food, fun and entertainment for families and fans both inside and outside the stadium throughout the day, the festivities are anything but a party for the environment.

Fortunately, there are plenty of resources available to help area residents take voluntary steps toward improving the quality of the air we breathe, starting by taking advantage of the alternative transportation modes the city has to offer. You might even be surprised at how simple it can be to adopt just one of many possible eco-friendly actions into your game day travel plans to reduce harmful emissions and help people all across the St. Louis region breathe easier this baseball season.

Metro Transit is a great option for fans to get downtown and join the festivities – safely and conveniently – while also avoiding traffic, congestion and parking hassles. Hop aboard MetroBus to catch the #40 North Broadway route or ride on any one of 13 MetroBus routes to the Civic Center Transit Center, which is located just a few blocks west of Busch Stadium. Otherwise, leave your car at any one of 20 free Park-Ride lots located at MetroLink stations in Missouri and Illinois, purchase a $5 round-trip MetroLink ticket and ride to the Stadium MetroLink Station to get to Busch Stadium, Ballpark Village or Kiener Plaza. You can also take MetroLink to one of the other five downtown MetroLink stations to enjoy pre-game rallies and activities while cutting down on harmful auto emissions.

Ridesharing services such as Uber and Lyft also match drivers of private vehicles to those seeking transportation and are another great option to eliminate the use of multiple vehicles. With transportation-related emissions being one of the biggest contributors to air pollution, you can do your share for cleaner air by opting for a ridesharing service to get you to the ballpark or carpool with friends to cut down on the number of vehicles on the road, which ultimately leads to fewer automobile emissions, reduced traffic congestion and improved air quality. Last but not least, if you’re looking to enjoy a brew or two before the game, consider taking a complimentary shuttle from local establishments like Big Daddy’s Soulard or Llywelyn’s Pub – that way you’ll also save money, avoid the hassles of parking and help keep the region’s air quality in healthy ranges!

For more great tips on how to enjoy a greener game day experience and achieve cleaner air all year long, visit the Clean Air Partnership website, like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter at @gatewaycleanair. GO CARDS!