In effort to highlight Earth Day on April 22, the Chicago Park District is partnering with Friends of the Parks to raise nature conservation awareness.

According to a news release from the park district, there will be volunteers from the city’s 93 parks on hand to help clean the parks on that day. Those interested can find an interactive map to locate parks designated for cleanup on the organization’s website. Each site will have a volunteer site captain whom interested parties can contact when they engage in the sign-up page.

“We have an obligation now, more than ever, to be stewards of our city’s green spaces and natural areas,” Chicago Park District Superintendent and CEO Rosa Escareño said. “We are proud that our staff, patrons, partners and volunteers share the goal of creating clean and healthy natural environments for our park visitors to enjoy, and our natural vegetation and wildlife to thrive in.”

From April 28 to May 1, the Chicago Region also will participate in the eighth annual City Nature Challenge, a competition with other metropolitan areas that gives citizens the opportunity to classify local wildlife and flora through submitted pictures. Chicago Park District expects more than 41,000 participants spanning 400 cities from across the world to compete in the global biodiversity challenge, according to the news release.

Spearheading the city’s work for the City Nature Challenge will be the Chicago Park District, Chicago Wilderness Alliance and various conservation organizations. Last year, the area had more than 800 observers, 500 identifiers that yielded 9,200 observations and 1,300 species identified via the iNaturalist app.  

Those wanting to take up the challenge can visit any park, trail or natural setting to capture photos of everything from animals to fungi, using it as a teaching opportunity that draws them closer to their region, the news release said.

The Chicago Park District will announce the results on May 8.