By LARRY LANNAN
April is Sustainability Month, and the city is gearing up for Keep Fishers Beautiful, also during April. The pandemic may limit some of the group activities seen in past years, but there will be plenty of opportunities to be a part of it.
The month-long celebration includes in-person volunteer opportunities at city parks and local schools; a City Recycling Day; discounts and special programming at local garden centers; a trash pickup run with Fishers Running Club; a sustainability-themed reading list curated by the Hamilton East Public Library; and guest blogs on ThisIsFishers.com focused on sustainability, gardening, volunteerism, and more.
The celebration will also feature the 2021 City of Service Awards during National Volunteer Week from April 18 to 23. The annual service award celebration will recognize the dedicated volunteers and individuals who have donated their time and talent to our community in 2020. This year, three new community nominated awards will debut, including Essential Worker of the Year, Community Servant of the Year, and Non-Profit Staffer of the Year.
Here is the schedule of events for the month of April, as provided by the city:
City Recycling Day
Saturday, April 10 from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Fishers offers a free recycling day at Billericay Park for residents on April 10, where electronics, household items, and hazardous wastes are accepted. Paper recycling and off-site confidential document shredding is also available. Learn more and find a list of accepted items here.
Weed Wrangles
Saturday, April 17 & Saturday, April 24 from 9 to 11:30 a.m.
Join Fishers Parks for Weed Wrangles on Saturday, April 17 at Cheeney Creek Natural Area and Saturday, April 24 at Ritchey Woods Nature Preserve to help protect the parks’ native wildflowers from invasive plant species. All ages and families are welcome, but children under the age of 14 must be accompanied by an adult. Registration is required. Sign up at ThisIsFishers.com/KFB.
Trash Tacklers
Saturday, April 17 & Saturday, April 24 from 9 to 11:30 a.m.
Be a Trash Tackler and help clean up litter around local high schools. Join on Saturday, April 17 at Hamilton Southeastern High School and Saturday, April 24 at Fishers High School. All ages and families are welcome, but children under the age of 14 must be accompanied by an adult. Registration is required. Sign up at ThisIsFishers.com/KFB.
Cheeney Creek Helpers
Saturday April 24 from 9 to 11:30 a.m.
Contribute to improvements to the fishing area, viewing area, and more at Cheeney Creek. All ages and families are welcome, but children under the age of 14 must be accompanied by an adult. Registration is required. Sign up at ThisIsFishers.com/KFB.
Fishers AgriPark Helpers
Saturday April 24 from 9 to 11:30 a.m.
Help to get the Fishers AgriPark ready for the season. Volunteers will spread mulch, plant trees, or plant a strawberry patch. All ages and families are welcome, but children under the age of 14 must be accompanied by an adult. Registration is required. Sign up at ThisIsFishers.com/KFB.
Arbor Day Tulip Tree Giveaway
Friday, April 30 at Holland Park from 6 to 8 p.m.
Saturday, May 1 at the Fishers Farmers’ Market at the Nickel Plate District AMP from 8 a.m. to noon
In honor of Arbor Day, pick up a free Tulip tree sapling, courtesy of Fishers Parks. 2021 marks the 90th anniversary of the Tulip tree’s designation as Indiana’s state tree. Pick up a sapling via drive thru at Holland Park on Friday or at the Fishers Parks’ tent at the opening day of the Fishers Farmers’ Market on Saturday. A total of 500 Tulip trees will be available on a first-come, first-served basis. Click here to learn more.
Fishers Running Club’s Park to Park Series
Saturdays in April
Fishers Running Club will host group run/walks on Saturday mornings from Holland Park as part of their Park to Park Series. Club members and guests will be supporting Keep Fishers Beautiful by picking up trash along the route between a different park each week, culminating in a sweep of Holland Park on Saturday, April 24. Visit the Fishers Running Club website to learn more about their activities or to sign up for a group run/walk. Guests are welcome.
Sustainability Book List
All month long
Learn more about sustainability from the comfort of home with a Keep Fishers Beautiful reading list curated by the Hamilton East Public Library. Get suggested reads for all ages, and digital copies are also available. Find the list at ThisIsFishers.com/KFB.
Keep Fishers Beautiful Blog Series
All month long
Read guest blogs from community members, local businesses, and non-profit organizations on topics including sustainability, gardening, nature, and more. Meet residents helping to keep the community beautiful, get spring planting tips from a local Master Gardener, learn about sustainable swaps, and get advice for tackling your spring cleaning in an eco-friendly way. Stay tuned for new blogs throughout the month at ThisIsFishers.com.
Support Local
All month long
Support local businesses during Keep Fishers Beautiful and get everything you need for your next landscaping or gardening project. Take advantage of these special deals and programs at garden centers around Fishers in April, including:
Allisonville Home & Garden by Sullivan
11405 Allisonville Road
Learn about bulbs, seeds and more at the Gardening 101 workshop, sponsored by Keep Fishers Beautiful. Get the inside tips and tricks to starting the perfect garden with this workshop on April 15 from 5 to 6 p.m. Click here to register
Geist Nursery
9890 N. Mollenkopf Road
Get $10 off your purchase of $60 or more from April 1 to 30. Must mention Keep Fishers Beautiful to redeem.
Wasson Nursery
13279 E. 126th St.
Get $5 off per yard (limit five yards) on any bulk mulch purchase from April 1 to 30. Pickup at the Fishers Garden Center on 126th Street and Olio Road, or get mulch delivered straight to your driveway. Must mention Keep Fishers Beautiful to redeem.
Neighborhood Blitz Boxes
Available all year long
Fishers’ neighborhoods can beautify their common spaces and facades through the Blitz Box program, which includes a small supply of gloves, garbage bags, and the use of a 30-yard dumpster free of charge. Supplies are limited and Blitz Boxes are available on a first-come, first-served basis. HOA representatives can complete an application at this link.
Fishers Stormwater Rain Barrel Program
Available all year long
Help to protect our freshwater resources and take advantage of the free rain barrel program through Fishers Stormwater. First, take Clear Choices Clean Water Indiana’s water quality pledge, then submit your pledge with your rain barrel application. Click here to learn more.
Adopt-a-Road
Available all year long
Organizations and individuals are invited to adopt a stretch of road by providing trash and litter pickup along Fishers’ streets. Learn more at ThisIsFishers.com/KFB.
Learn More
Register for events, find resources, take the #VolunteerFishers pledge, and learn more about the month-long celebration at ThisIsFishers.com/KFB. Follow along on social media at #KeepFishersBeautiful.