Festival encourages improving environment

By KATIE SEMINARA

City officials hope to create more urban garden and forest areas.

YOUNGSTOWN — The city will present the inaugural Grey to Green Festival from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday at Wick Park.

More than 40 businesses and community organizations that strive to create awareness of environmental issues will participate in the event at the 34-acre park on the North Side.

The term “green” refers to the city’s plans to create more urban garden and forest areas as well as making the Mahoning Valley more ecological and environmentally friendly, said festival coordinator Debra Weaver.

Aiming to emphasize sustainable green practices, the festival will highlight the grey-to-green concept in the Youngstown 2010 Plan as well as the Wick Park Revitalization effort.

“This is an event that shows we are promoting a greater green plan,” said Phill Kidd, director of downtown events.

Various workshops, green displays, music, food, a farmer’s market and “green” merchandise vendors will set up during the festival. Those in attendance can take part in free yoga or tai chi classes, visit the NASA Aerobus and enjoy music by local musicians.

The Grey to Green Festival is also hosting a free Drop & Shop from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Festival-goers can bring unwanted but usable items and take items brought by other Drop & Shop participants.

Weaver said the children’s section of the festival will be a focal point with crafts, nature walks and readings by popular TV character Dora the Explorer.

Bringing chairs or blankets might be a good idea said Weaver, who encourages festival-goers to pack a picnic or buy lunch from the farmers market.

Questions can be sent to greytogreen@gmail.com or visit cityofyoungstownoh.org for more information.