MEDIA ADVISORY for May 12, 2025

Heights EcoFest Returns: Bigger, Bolder, and More Impactful Than Ever

For Immediate Release: May 12, 2025

Contact: Catalina Wagers, Co-Founder Cleveland Heights Green Team,

email: greenteam@chgreenteama.org

CLEVELAND HEIGHTS, OH – After a year-long hiatus due to the Coventry PEACE Park remodel, Heights EcoFest is back—bigger and more impactful than ever. Hosted by the Cleveland Heights Green Team and Heights Libraries Coventry Village Branch, this festival connects Northeast Ohio residents with practical, sustainable alternatives to everyday choices, making it easier to live greener and healthier.

Now in its 4th year, EcoFest is set to be the largest yet, with over 40 exhibitors, 35% of them first-time participants, reflecting the growing momentum behind sustainable living.

Interactive Zones for All Ages

EcoFest is designed to be highly interactive, organized into four themed zones:

Eco Living – Sustainable home and lifestyle solutions
Eco Health – Wellness and environmentally friendly health practices
Eco Kids – Engaging activities for young nature explorers
Eco Fun – Music, movement, and creative expression

Attendees can enjoy yoga, cardio drumming, poetry writing, upcycle art making, a scavenger hunt, and a community gifting table, where neighbors can bring items to gift and take what they need, fostering a culture of sharing and sustainability.

A Celebration of Coventry’s Legacy

More than an environmental event, EcoFest is a community-building opportunity and a cultural catalyst for change. Coventry has long been Cleveland’s epicenter for counterculture, making it the perfect venue to celebrate ecological stewardship through community engagement.

Guests are encouraged to explore Coventry’s iconic establishments, including Tommy’s Restaurant, Mac’s Backs Books, Passport to Peru, and several of the best antique and secondhand shops on Cleveland’s east side.

A One-of-a-Kind Regional Event

EcoFest promises to be a fun, engaging experience for the entire family. Bring a blanket to relax in the PEACE Park green space, explore the mini forest and new playground, and enjoy music, games, and artistic performances.

Event Details

📅 Saturday, June 7 🕛 12:00 PM – 4:00 PM
📍 Coventry PEACE Park, 2843 Washington Blvd, Cleveland Heights, OH 44118

For complete details, directions, parking, and a list of partners, visit www.chgreenteam.org.

MEDIA ADVISORY for April 11, 2024

‘Blue Vinyl’ Movie Screening and Q&A

For Immediate Release: April 4, 2024

Contact: Catalina Wagers, Co-Founder Cleveland Heights Green Team,

email: greenteam@chgreenteama.org

On Thursday April 11 the Cleveland Heights Green Team in partnership with Beyond Plastics, and Heights Libraries will host a screening of “Blue Vinyl”, a documentary film that follows a woman looking to update her parents’ home only to find that the vinyl chloride typically used in many materials came with alarming environmental, health, and environmental justice impacts. Although the film “Blue Vinyl” was released in 2002, it remains relevant today as vinyl chloride persists in American products, threatening the health of consumers, the communities surrounding PVC production facilities, and those living along railways that transport the dangerous chemical. Three train cars carrying vinyl chloride derailed in East Palestine on February 3, 2023.

PVC plastic made from vinyl chloride is used to make everything from the iconic rubber ducky and other children's toys to pipes, floor coverings, shower curtains, raincoats, and vinyl siding. Fortunately, there are safer alternatives to PVC. The International Agency for Research on Cancer considers it a Group 1 carcinogen.

This film keeps with the theme of Earth Day 2024, 'Planet over Plastics', reaffirming the urgency to reduce global plastic pollution and ensure a more sustainable future.

WHAT: Screening of “Blue Vinyl,” Winner of the Excellence in Cinematography Award at Sundance an Emmy-award-winning documentary film, followed by a Q&A with Dr. Kathy A. Smachlo, member of Beyond Plastics.

WHEN: Thursday April 11, 6.30 pm

WHERE: Heights Libraries – Lee Road Branch, 2345 Lee Rd, Cleveland Heights, OH 44118

BACKGROUND:

Launched in 2019, Beyond Plastics is a nationwide project that works to end plastic pollution. Using research, policy, and advocacy expertise, Beyond Plastics is building a well-informed movement working to achieve the institutional, economic, and societal changes needed to protect our planet and ourselves, from the negative health, climate, and environmental impacts from the production, usage, and disposal of plastics.

Cleveland Heights Green Team is a grassroots organization with the mission to reduce and to better manage local impact on our environment through advocacy, stewardship, and education.

Heights Eco Fair is scheduled for May 27 at Coventry PEACE Park

Contact Information:

Maggie Kinney

Coventry Library Branch Manager,

Heights Libraries

Phone: 216-321-3400

Email: mkinney@heightslibrary.org

Catalina Wagers

Co-founder

Cleveland Heights Green Team

Phone: 214-405-2025

Email: greenteam@chgreenteam.org

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

HEIGHTS ECOFEST

May 8, 2023

Heights EcoFest is a unique family friendly-community-building event where visitors are invited to connect with local resources and join in activities designed to promote and expand awareness of sustainable practices and intended to inspire and promote a greener and healthier lifestyle.

The lineup of exhibitors and partners is extensive and organized in four categories: Sustainable Living; Healthy Living; Eco Kids; and a nature inspired Art Zone. This year’s theme is 'This Art is for the Birds,' a brainchild of artist Robin VanLear, founder of Art Acts, who is collaborating with Lake Erie Ink and Artful to bring awareness, through creative experimentation, to the fragility and importance of birds to our natural world. The immersive art experience invites children and adults alike to write poetry, explore sidewalk chalk art, and craft birds from upcycled materials while learning why and how to care for them. The fair will also feature performances by local artists, healthy and sustainably sourced food for purchase, yoga, tai chi, cardio drumming, and dance in the park.

In addition, Goodwill of Greater Cleveland and East Central Ohio will be on location providing the community an opportunity to recycle clothing, household items, home décor, electronics (working and non-working), toys and books.

Heights EcoFest will take place on the beautiful grounds on Coventry PEACE Park on Saturday May 27 from 12.00 to 4.00 pm and is hosted by Heights Libraries and the Cleveland Heights Green Team in partnership with FutureHeights and the Coventry Village Special Improvement District.

Visit https://www.chgreenteam.org/eco-fest-2023 for a complete list of activities, exhibitors, performances, and parking information.

Use this link to access promotional materials.

About Cleveland Heights Green Team

Cleveland Heights Green Team is a grassroots volunteer organization formed by three residents of Cleveland Heights who share a passion for environmental advocacy through community engagement and participation.

We believe that by connecting and working with like-minded residents, businesses, local advocacy groups, and City officials, we can achieve growth without compromising the equity, opportunity, and right of our residents to a community that is environmentally healthy and resilient.

Our mission is to reduce and to better manage local impact on our environment through advocacy, stewardship, and education.

About Heights Libraries

With four branches located in both Cleveland Heights and University Heights, Heights’s libraries aim to anticipate and fulfill our customers’ needs and to provide our customers with a unique and rewarding library experience. We strive to be a community gathering place and provide an environment where all are welcome.

Press Release

September 28, 2022

Heights Eco Fair is scheduled for October 8th at Coventry PEACE Park

The Cleveland Heights Green Team (CHGT) in partnership with Heights Libraries, FutureHeights, the Coventry Village Special Improvement District, and Amplify Dispensary on Coventry is hosting the 2nd annual Heights Eco Fair on October 8th from noon to 4.00 pm at the Coventry PEACE Park.

The event serves as a space for the Northeast Ohio community to connect with local resources with the intention to highlight and promote a more environmentally friendly and healthier lifestyle. The fair is designed to raise awareness about issues and solutions and to spark ideas for new collaborations.

The lineup of exhibitors and partners is extensive and organized in four categories: Sustainable Living; Healthy Living; Eco Kids; and Swap Zone, where residents will have the opportunity to bring their unwanted, but in working condition, CDs, video games, DVDs, VHS, cassettes, as well as children’s books. They can swap or take media and books. Leftovers will be recycled by GreenDisk or donated to organizations in need.

The fair will also feature performances by local artists, healthy and sustainably sourced food for purchase, a community bike ride organized by Bike Cleveland, and yoga and dance in the park. One major addition to this year’s program is an art exhibit by CH-UH High School students. About 250 students have worked on upcycle-art projects since the start of the school year, utilizing materials from within the school building that would otherwise have ended up in the trash. Visitors will get a chance to admire the students’ works of art and vote on their favorites.

The Eco Fair is a family friendly-community-building event where visitors can participate in hands-on activities that can increase their awareness of sustainability practices while introducing them to a wide variety of vendors with expertise in earth-friendly techniques and pro-tips.

Visit https://www.chgreenteam.org/eco-fair-2022 for a complete list of activities, exhibitors, performances, and parking information.

Press Release

April 4, 2022

Cleveland Heights Celebrates World Health Day with a community Bike Rally

Bike Cleveland in partnership with the Cleveland Heights Green Team, University Hospitals, and the Cleveland Heights Police Department will be hosting a community Bike Rally on Thursday April 7 as part of the Earth Month in the Heights initiative and in honor of World Health Day.

Residents are invited to meet at Boulevard Elementary School on Lee Road starting at 4.00 pm where they can participate in a variety of activities such as bike safety lessons, bike ride lessons for children, a mobile bike repair shop, and safety equipment give away. The 4.1 miles community bike ride starts at 5.00 pm. The route is all on paved neighborhood roads and concludes with a ride through historic Cain Park.

In addition, MedWish will be on location collecting discarded medical supplies to support relief efforts in Ukraine.

Press Release

March 28, 2022

Heights residents honor Earth Month with a wide range of grassroots events

Earth Month in the Heights is a crowdsourced effort led by the Cleveland Heights Green Team for Heights’ residents to participate in a wide range of activities and events designed to inspire awareness and advocacy for a healthier and greener Heights. Over thirty events, organized by the community for the community will provide everyone in the Heights with access to transformational action.

The Calendar of Events include a Bike Rally for World Health Day hosted by Bike Cleveland, neighborhoods, green spaces, and community gardens clean ups, nature walks, sustainability forums, the first Heights Sustainability Fair, Cleveland Heights Earth Day 5k run, a book discussion at the Heights Library, and free trees for all University Heights and Cleveland Heights residents who wish to have one or more planted in their yards.

Earth Month in the Heights seeks to connect local groups and organizations, whose commitment to a more sustainable and healthier way of life in our communities is so valuable but, in some cases, not well recognized. It brings their work into the spotlight and offers residents the opportunity to learn more by participating in one or more of the events and inspire them to join as members or volunteers. Healthy communities welcome everyone to join in making a difference. Some of the local organizations and groups supporting the effort include Friends of Heights Parks, Heights Tree People, Noble Litter Busters, Doan Brook Watershed Partnership, ARTFUL, Future Heights, Boulevard Elementary Learning Garden, Bike Cleveland, Glendon Road Plus Neighbors, Heights Libraries, and the Nature Center at Shaker Heights.

In addition, the Cleveland Heights Green Team is supporting the Ukraine crisis relief efforts by partnering with MedWish International and conducting a discarded medical supplies collection drive as part of Earth Month. The drive emphasizes recycling, reusing, repurposing alternatives as a mechanism to divert waste from the landfill while also giving residents the opportunity to donate supplies to distribute to relief organizations operating in Eastern Europe. To make it easy for residents to drop off donations, the Green Team has organized two collection drives during two community events: the World Health Day Heights Bike Crawl on April 7, 4.00–6.00 p.m. at Boulevard Elementary School, and the Heights Sustainability Fair on April 23, 1–4 p.m. at Coventry PEACE Park.

Earth Month in the Heights is a groundbreaking community initiative intended to affirm that all have the responsibility and power to protect the environment, live healthier lives, and create an equitable, prosperous community for all.

Click here for full Events Details

Fri April. 1

Free Tree Planting

April 1 - May 31

Boulevard Garden Bed Workdays

Boulevard Elementary School, Cleveland Heights

09:00 AM - 02:00 PM

Garden Walk Event in July

April 1 - June 30

Window Display Book Sale

Mac's Backs Books in Coventry

April 1 - May 31

Sat April. 2

Schoolhouse Park Clean Up

14391 Superior Rd, Cleveland Heights

09:00 AM - 11.00 AM

Boulevard Garden Bed Work Days

Boulevard Elementary School, Cleveland Heights

09:00 AM - 02:00 PM

Tue April. 5

How to prepare for climate change

Shaker Heights Middle School - Auditorium

07:00 PM - 08:30 PM

Wed April. 6

Deyampert Giles: Spring Garden Preparation

07:00 PM - 08:00 PM ZOOM

Thu April. 7

Neighborhood Bike Rally for World Health Day

Medical Supplies Drive for Ukraine Crisis Relief

Accepted Supplies List

Boulevard Elementary School, Cleveland Heights

04:00 PM - 06:00 PM

Sat April. 9

A Walk in the Park

Lower Shaker Lake, Shaker Heights

10:00 AM

Rockefeller Park Stream Sweep

750 E 88th St, Cleveland, OH

12:30 PM - 03:00 PM

Tue April. 12

Dine for a Cause - Support Boulevard Garden

Bottle House 2050 Lee Rd, Cleveland Heights

06:00 PM - 09:00 PM

Local Government and the Environment

League of Women Voters Forum Zoom

07:00 PM

Thu April.14

Steve Cagan: Will it be Beautiful?

07:00 PM - 08:00 PM ZOOM

Sat April.16

Cumberland Park Clean Up

1740 Cumberland Rd, Cleveland Heights

9:00 AM

Ambler Park Stream Sweep

Ambler Park

12:30 PM - 03:30 PM

Wed April. 20

Barbara Boyd Park Clean Up

869 Ravine Dr, Cleveland Heights

10:00 AM - 01:30 PM

Earth Day Run 5K

Forest Hill Park

6:45 PM

Thu April. 21

Book Discussion: A Terrible Thing to Waste

Heights Library Lee Road, Cleveland Heights

7.00 PM

Sat April. 23

Noble Elementary Campus Litter Pickup

1293 Ardoon St #1601, Cleveland Heights

10.00 AM

Rockefeller's Forest Hill Wooded Lot Clean-up

Corner of Burlington & Mayfield, Cleveland Heights

10:00 AM - 02:00 PM

Heights Sustainability Fair - Design our Green Future

Medical Supplies Drive for Ukraine Crisis Relief

Accepted Supplies List

Houseplant info & demo with Houseplant Warrior author Raffaele DiLallo

Coventry PEACE Park

01:00 PM - 04:00 PM

Sat April. 23

Earth Spirit Mask Making

Art Acts Studio - Coventry Peace Campus

2843 Washington Blvd, Cleveland Heights

01:00 PM - 04:00 PM

Sun April. 24

Stormwater grates and street refuse cleanup: Lake Erie starts here

The Walt Park 2301 Fenwick Rd, University Heights

10:00 AM - 02:00 PM

Cain Park Clean Up Day

Cain Park 14591 Superior Rd, Cleveland Heights

2:00 PM

Wed April.27

Heights Sustainability Forum

Future Heights- Coventry Peace Campus

2843 Washington Blvd, Cleveland Heights

07:00 PM - 08:30 PM

Thu April.28

Build the Park Presentation and Q&A

Cleveland Heights Community Center

07:00 PM - 09:00 PM

Fri April. 29

Ceremonial Tree Planting and Tree Give Away

Cleveland Heights Community Center

10:00 AM - 03:00 PM

Oxford Elementary School campus litter pickup with Student Council

939 Quilliams Rd, Cleveland Heights

12.30 PM

Sat April. 30

Grow Not Mow - Native Plants Planting

Corner of Courtland Blvd & South Park Blvd

Shaker Heights

10:00 AM - 01:00 PM

Family Exploration Day

Nature Center, Shaker Heights

10.00 AM

Earth Stewards - Fairmount Presbyterian Church tour

2757 Fairmount Blvd, Cleveland Heights

Press Contact

Cleveland Heights Green Team

Catalina Wagers

greenteam@chgreenteam.org

214-405-2025