Grand Canyon’s Earth Day 2014 to Focus on Water Conservation

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The Grand Canyon National Park will be celebrating Earth Day from April 18 to 20. In honor of Earth Day, the park’s employees are announcing a recycled water bottle art exhibit at the Grand Canyon Visitor Center IMAX. This year’s theme is “Water Conservation” and the public is invited to create an art piece that consists of 75 percent recycled materials with a focus on used water bottles.

Artists are asked to bring their art work to the Grand Canyon Park Headquarters on April 18 between 10 a.m and 2 p.m. The submitted art pieces will be displayed inside or outside the Grand Canyon Visitor Center IMAX depending on space.

In February 2012, the Grand Canyon National Park banned the sale of bottled water after experienced increasing amounts of litter associated with disposable plastic bottles along trails both on the rim and within the inner canyon. The ban included the elimination of the sale of disposable water containers of less than one gallon, plastic bottles and various types of boxes. To compensate, nearly $290,000 was spent to install ten water stations inside the park. Visitors are encouraged to use the stations to refill their own water bottles, which they can bring in from the outside.

Nearly 5 million tourists visit the Grand Canyon each year, and officials worry about litter found on the rim and inner canyon spoiling the park and its views. Park officials estimate the disposable bottles account for 20 percent of the park’s waste and 30 percent of its recyclables.

More information about the art exhibit contact Cynthia_Valle@nps.gov. or Pamela Edwards at pamela_edwards@nps.gov.

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Celebrate with us

Grand Canyon’s Green Team is organizing Earth Day’s free, fun and educational Grand Canyon activities and is on the lookout for 10 people from outside the park to participate in the open-house style event April 20. Interested individuals, businesses or organizations may contact Edwards at (928) 638-7713 to obtain an application. Applications must be turned in by March 7. Forms will be evaluated by the Green Team and all applicants will be notified by the end of March.

Grand Canyon’s Green Team is working hard to increase the awareness and level of environmental stewardship within the Grand Canyon community.