Initiatives

Litter, debris and other pollutants enter storm drains and eventually pollute our waterways. It can also clog drains, flooding local streets. Residents can adopt one or more storm drains in their neighborhood and periodically remove leaves and litter from the top of the drain.

Tired of seeing trash on our streets and sidewalks and in our parks and other natural areas? So are we. Do you wish you could do something about it? Well, we are! And so can you!

SHP gives away free native plants during the spring, summer and fall months. Visit us at the Spring Street Fair, Clean and Green Weekends, National Night Out, and Arts in the Park. Support pollinators, birds, and other wildlife by planting native plants!

Sustainable Highland Park hosts Repair Cafes, which are community-organized events where skilled volunteers make small repairs to household items. The repairs extend the life of the items and keep them out of landfills. Community members can also have coffee, tea, and snacks while repairs are completed. You can join a Repair Cafe as a guest or a volunteer!

Rain gardens are used to reduce water flow onto streets and into storm sewers, filter water, replenish groundwater supplies, and provide habitat for pollinator species and other wildlife. We regularly maintain Highland Park’s public rain gardens, including weeding, watering, pruning, planting, trash removal, and other minor repairs.

Sustainable Highland Park has begun conducting free workshops on topics of importance and interest to our community. There are currently two series of workshops, with more series planned for the future.

Two members of Sustainable Highland Park serve as co-advisors to the Environmental Club at Highland Park High School. Students participate in Sustainable Highland Park’s street fair plant giveaways, town-wide adopt-a-drain and cleanup programs, and organized two of their own cleanups at the sports field.

Do you have seeds from your garden that you can share with other plant enthusiasts? Whether it’s vegetable or flower seeds, we collect and distribute seeds free of charge at the Farmers Market and local events throughout the year.

These additional initiatives are focused on educating the community about and promoting legislative actions that further our mission, as well as outreach and community engagement activities.