MANSFIELD, OH (CRAWFORD COUNTY NOW)—The Earth Stewardship Steering Committee is set to kick off its 29th annual Earth Stewardship Celebration, joining a nationwide effort for the Great American Cleanup.
Mansfield Mayor Jodie Perry, Richland County Commissioners, elected officials, and community leaders will join the committee to officially declare April 1 through August 1 as Earth Stewardship Months in Mansfield and Richland County. The proclamation event will take place on Tuesday, April 22, 2025, at 1:00 p.m. at the Richland Area Chamber & Economic Development, located at 55 North Mulberry Street in Mansfield.
The committee also announced the start of its annual “Planting Pride in Richland County” initiative. This event encourages local groups throughout Mansfield and Richland County to undertake environmental projects between April and August. The aim is to extend the spirit of Earth Day, Arbor Day, and Soil and Water Stewardship Week beyond single-day celebrations.
Citizens are invited to participate by organizing projects such as litter cleanups, tree plantings, beautification efforts, recycling drives, community gardens, rain barrel or rain garden installations, and the planting of native plants, pollinators, prairies, or wildflower gardens. Participants can choose their own project and location.
The Earth Stewardship Steering Committee urges interested individuals, neighbors, and coworkers to register their participation by calling (419) 522-3211. The deadline for registration and project completion is August 1, 2025, with photos of completed projects due on the same date.
Over the past 28 years, more than 58,922 volunteers in Richland County have contributed over 2.2 million hours of their time to complete more than 786 projects through this annual initiative.
The Earth Stewardship Steering Committee comprises representatives from the City of Mansfield, Downtown Mansfield, Inc., North End Community Improvement Collaborative, OSU Extension, Richland Area Chamber and Economic Development, Richland Public Health, Richland County Regional Solid Waste Management Authority, and Richland Soil & Water Conservation District.