The City will celebrate Earth Day on April 23 at the transformed (soon-to-be-former) Former Milton Country Club with hands-on activities, animal ambassadors, sweet treats, and much more. 

The festivities that Saturday begin at 9:30 a.m. with a ribbon-cutting and grand opening ceremony for the renovated clubhouse-turned-community center as well as the to-be partially open first new trail in the 107-acre property’s passive component. The City purchased the longtime country club in 2018 and has been implementing elements of its master plan ever since, with the community center and nature trails central to that. (For more on this property, check out www.miltonga.gov/FMCC.)

The transformed former Milton Country Club was also envisioned as a hub for people around the city, including those who want to enjoy nature or participate in organized programs. The Earth Day celebration is a combination of both, thus an ideal way to kick off this new, exciting era for this property.

Between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m., attendees can:

• Get up close and personal with local animals saved by the Atlanta Wild Animal Rescue Effort (AWARE)
• Make tool boxes compliments of Home Depot (note: this is different from the previous project of bird houses/bird feeders)
• Get insights into gardening in free classes hosted by the North Fulton Master Gardeners, with some geared towards children and others for adults
• Take a mindfulness class (led by instructors from Milton-based Mindful Seeds) on the grassy field looking out towards the new trail
• Enjoy sweet treats from Milton-based Nothing Bundt Cakes and coffee from Boarding Pass Coffee, which will explain how to compost coffee grounds for your garden
• Learn the basics of beekeeping, and afterward sample some Milton-made honey

The winner of a nature photography contest will be announced during the event as well. Over the coming days, follow the City of Milton’s Facebook page (www.facebook.com/thecityofmiltonga/) for details on how you and fellow shutterbugs can share your awesome pictures for a chance to win an artistic rain barrel. (The City’s program partners at The Photo Creative will judge the contest.) 

Speaking of which, many more people can get a free rain barrel (minus added artistic flair) and tutorial on how to use it from Chattahoochee Riverkeeper. People must sign-up in advance for this always popular activity and giveaway, as well as the gardening and beekeeping classes mentioned above.

You can do so at this Sign-Up Genius link: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10c0f4faaa929abf9c16-earth. Space is limited (as are rain barrels), so only those first to register can participate.

In addition to those involved in the above programs, the April 23 event will feature information from the Milton Land Conservancy, State of Georgia’s Department of Natural Resources, as well as Plant! Milton – the latter being a City initiative to encourage the planting and nurturing of trees in the City. (For more on this, check out www.miltonga.gov/PlantMilton.) 

Also home to the City Pool and Milton Tennis Center, the former Milton Country Club is located at 1785 Dinsmore Road in Milton. Milton’s Mayor and City Council are expected to consider naming the property at a meeting later this month. Through April 11, you can email nameourparks@cityofmiltonga.us with your suggestion for what this property should be named; the City Council could decide on a name, after weighing some of the more popular suggestions, later this month.