The city of Aurora will celebrate Earth Day on Saturday with a volunteer clean-up event, giving residents the chance to give back to the city’s open space.

Volunteers will gather along Tollgate Creek to pick up trash at 10 a.m. and start at Centre Hills Park, 16300 E. Centretech Pkwy, to celebrate Earth Day, which is officially on Monday. 

Those interested in volunteering can sign up in the city of Aurora’s volunteer portal. 

Event coordinator Fendi Despres said the area to be cleaned used to be a driving range and there are still thousands of old golf balls there. 

The goal is to remove as many of the golf balls as possible and then hit the Highline Canal area to clean up trash, she said.

Her team will provide all of the required clean up gear, including trash bags, trash pickers and gloves, but volunteers will need to bring water, sturdy close-toed shoes and long pants, she said.

Volunteers should also keep an eye on the weather and dress appropriately, she said. If the weather gets bad, the event will be rescheduled to the following Saturday, April 27 at 10 a.m.

“One of the most impactful things anybody can do for our natural spaces is to remove litter and debris that is toxic to our water sources, the vegetation that grows in the area and the wildlife,” she said. “It’s one of the most tangible acts of reciprocity that people can do for nature.”

Oftentimes in modern culture, people forget that they are part of nature, Despres said. Doing clean-up events like the one Saturday is one of many ways people can physically and mentally give back to nature while being in it and being involved, she said.

Aurora puts a lot of focus on parks and open space, Despres said, and understands that its residents value open space.

The city has 8,000 acres of open space, 119 miles of trails, 103 parks, three nature center and two reservoirs, according to its Open Space webpage.

So far, about 60 people have registered for Saturday’s event and Despres expects more to join before it happens. 

“We are nature and Earth is our home,” Despres said. “One of the most influential ways we can get back to our roots and practice acts of reciprocity for clean air, clean water and clean food is by giving back in these small acts like removing trash.”

Also on Saturday, Colorado Parks and Wildlife is celebrating Earth Day with volunteer projects, activities, face painting and kites from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Cherry Creek State Park, 4201 S. Parker Rd.

On Earth Day Monday, the Stanley Marketplace, 2501 Dallas St., is hosting a free clothing swap from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m.