On April 25, the City of Berea, in collaboration with Sustainable Berea and Berea Rec Family and Youth Initiative, is hosting the sixth annual Earth Day Fest and Coe Lake cleanup.
The cleanup will begin at 9:30 a.m., and from 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. there will be live music, vendors and conservation groups set up at the pavilion near Coe Lake. Baldwin Wallace University graduate Noah Mowery will have a pop-up station for his clothing store The Thrifting Tree, and BW student Lucas Chambers will provide live music. At 12:30 p.m., there will be a community bike ride on the Lake to Lake Trail from Lake Isaac to Lake Abram.
The bike ride will be the inaugural ride of Berea’s chapter of Bike Cleveland, a nonprofit whose mission is to create a sustainable, connected, and vibrant region by promoting safe, equitable transportation through infrastructure advocacy, educational programming, and community events. It also happens to take place on Celebrate Trails Day, a national celebration sponsored by Rails to Trails Conservancy encouraging people to get outside and enjoy America’s trails.
The cleanup itself will be focused on removing invasive honeysuckle from the area surrounding Coe Lake and planting native species to replace it. This project will be led by experts from the Rocky River Watershed Council, a nonprofit dedicated to improving the aquatic quality of the Rocky River and its tributaries.
Much of the event’s planning has been thanks to Erika Coble, Ward 4, Berea City Council. The event started six years ago with just a table set up in the community, handing out bags and promoting sustainability. However, with increased community participation over the years, the event has blossomed into what it is today.
“We live in the parks. We live near a Great Lake. We live along the Rocky River,” Coble said. “[This event is about] valuing our natural environment through coming together as a community to celebrate. It’s protection and it’s a good way to connect and network and meet each other and volunteer on a community project.”
Coble said, in the past, BW students and faculty have often contributed to Earth Day Fest, volunteering their time and resources. She said that in prior years BW sports teams have helped out, such as the football team, the women’s basketball team and the BW Running Club.
She also said that each year, BW typically collaborates with an organization or the city to put on a film related to Earth Day or sustainability in some way. This year, BW is collaborating with Northeast Ohio Sierra Club for a showing of the film “Lead Paint.” After the film, there will be a panel discussion, and the film director and poet featured in the film will be in attendance. The film will be shown on April 20 at 7 p.m. in Surrarrer Auditorium, Telfer Hall 115.
The City of Berea invites all community members, students and families to come celebrate and volunteer at the 2026 Earth Day Fest.
For those who wish to join the community bike ride but do not have access to a bike, the Berea Public Library offers free access to bikes.
For those wishing to help with cleanup, meet at the gazebo at Coe Lake at 9 a.m. for coffee, donuts and instructions. Please scan the QR code if you plan on helping with the cleanup.
