For More Information Contact:
Colleen Pillus, Communications Director
(845) 486-2000
Poughkeepsie… In celebration of Earth Day, Dutchess County Parks—in collaboration with the Poughkeepsie Public Library District, Cornell Cooperative Extension of Dutchess County, RiverWinds Gallery, and local artists—will host an Earth Awakening Weekend Saturday, April 24 and Sunday, April 25 at Bowdoin Park.
Dutchess County Executive Marc Molinaro said, “Earth Day is a time to pause and take in the beauty of our surroundings, celebrate nature, and possibly learn something new about how to protect our valuable natural world. We are grateful to our community partners and the local artists for their support in making this event special. Our award-winning Bowdoin Park has so much natural beauty to share and I encourage everyone to take some time this weekend to come enjoy it, see the work of talented artists, read a book or two from the mobile library, and maybe see the world a whole new light.”
The weekend kicks off at 9 a.m. Saturday with a rededication ceremony of the historic Ellessdie Chapel and its newly painted interior. Following the ceremony on Saturday, local artists will set up throughout the park to create landscape art as part of a live ‘Plein Air’ event. Local artwork will be on exhibit and available for purchase in the chapel from 10a.m. to 4:30p.m. on Saturday and Sunday and paintings from students who participated in the County’s recent Park Palette program will also be on display throughout the weekend in Pavilion 5.
As part of the County’s ongoing Dutchess Reads initiative, the weekend will also include a visit from the Poughkeepsie Public Library District’s Rover the Roaming Library, which will offer a family story time and Story Walk and a pollinator seed giveaway, while supplies last.
Poughkeepsie Public Library District Director Tom Lawrence said, “We are happy to partner this year with Dutchess County Parks. Together, we have a lot of fun with educational events in the works and are thrilled that we can collectively promote our mission of lifelong learning, literacy and reading.”
Other activities will be offered throughout the weekend in coordination with Cornell Cooperative Extension of Dutchess County and the Parks Naturalists, guided nature hikes and bird walks, self-guided scavenger hunt, a hands-on Park Palette youth workshop and a bee keeping exhibition.
Sandy Washburn, Dutchess County Parks Director, said, “We are always looking for ways to engage new park users. Earth Awakening Weekend is a perfect example of how collaboration with other entities such as Poughkeepsie Public Library, Cornell Cooperative Extension of Dutchess County, and local art organizations, we can provide opportunities which benefit both local artists and our community.”
All Dutchess County Parks programs follow state social distancing guidelines. Visit DutchessNY.gov/Parks for more information.
Earth Awakening Weekend Schedule
Saturday, April 24
Sunday, April 25
