Richmond Heights’ Greenwood Farm Community Park will be hosting its third annual Juneteenth event on June 22.
According to April Scott, the president of Greenwood Farm located at 264 Richmond Road, said that last year’s celebration saw over 250 people on the grounds. She said enthusiastically that she was hoping for even more this year.
“We had guests that came from Richmond Heights and surrounding communities,” Scott said. “Folks were able to learn about what Juneteenth was all about.
“Juneteenth is starting to become popular in the communities, so this was our way of informing the community what Juneteenth is and why we are having a celebration.”
Juneteenth became a federal holiday in 2021. According to Scott, this gives her an interesting opportunity in being able to start new traditions that might have a lasting impact within the community.
“Having this celebration was the first time that Richmond Heights had a Juneteenth event and let alone in a farm,” Scott said. “So, this was a way of introducing Greenwood Farm to the community since it is a community park. So, this was a way of introducing the farm and introducing the Juneteenth celebration.
“Because we want to let everybody know that this is a celebration for everyone. Definitely setting the groundwork for years to come as an annual celebration.”
She said recycling will be a focus at this year’s event.
The Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Inc., the oldest Greek-letter organization established by African American college-educated women, will be on site to educate guests on recycling, trash programs and gardening. Scott said that she wants people to realize the resources that they have at Greenwood Farm and wanted to provide information on recycling as a way to help educate people on how they can make a daily impact.
Richmond Heights’ Greenwood Farm offers easy access to nature, history within the city
“One of (the sorority’s) initiatives is enhancing our environment,” Scott said. “So, I felt like it was good to have them come in to help us enhance our environment and give out information and just inform the residents and surrounding communities just how important recycling is in order to preserve our earth, our world.”
“Greenwood Farm sits on 17 acres of beautiful, lush gardens. We have a rain garden, a waterfall and you can also walk to Euclid Creek Park from Greenwood Farm, so that’s one of the enhancements and beauty of it,” Scott added.
