Since its inception in 1970, Earth Day has inspired countless events that celebrate the environment and foster stewardship in our communities. This year Feet First had the privilege of organizing three unique events that both honored the spirit of Earth Day and advanced our mission of promoting walkable communities.
For the fourth year in a row, Latona Pub showcased a selection of craft beers that were transported by foot, bike, and sailboat from local breweries across Puget Sound to the Green Lake area pub on the week leading up to Earth Day.
The sustainable beer transportation events culminated on Sunday, April 20 with Feet First’s Handtruckin’ Toast to Earth Day: The Great Beer Hike, in which more than a dozen volunteers delivered the final keg to Latona Pub after a thirteen mile walk from Two Beers Brewery in SODO. Upon their arrival, volunteers celebrated with a well deserved pint of beer and proceeds from the keg benefited Feet First to ensure all communities across Washington are walkable.
The following Saturday, April 26, Feet First teamed up with the Northwest Green Home Tour, an annual event which showcases green homes and businesses in the Puget Sound region. Feet First Board President and Neighborhood Walking Ambassador Dave Ramsay led forty participants on a walk that connected six Green Home Tour sites in North Seattle. Starting from Hale’s Ales in Ballard, participants visited homes and businesses in Fremont, Phinney Ridge, and Greenwood, learning about sustainable design.
On the same day, Feet First and Cathy & Jake Jaramillo, co-authors of Seattle Stairway Walks, in partnership with Seattle Neighborhood Greenways and the City of Seattle, organized a Seattle-wide Stairway Spring Cleaning Day. One hundred volunteers took part in fifteen stairway cleaning events across the city, lending their time to make these neighborhood byways safer for pedestrians. Seattle’s stairs are a historical legacy and valuable community asset, which connect us to parks, playgrounds, bus stops, and outdoor recreation across the city.