Alton hosted its classic Riverbend Earth Day Festival on April 11 this year and the event drew hundreds. The event featured live music, food and eco-friendly vendors, plant sellers and artisans. Many local businesses, musicians and restaurants were highlighted with an emphasis on eco-conscious shopping. A portion of the proceeds went to the Piasa Palisades Sierra Club, whose work includes supporting native pollinators and local ecosystems. 

The community on the river has been committed to protecting the Mississippi River watershed, managing forests and restoring native prairies. National Great Rivers conducts research, education and outreach on wetland protection. The Nature Institute manages and maintains prairie land in the Alton area through the Heartland Prairie Project and the Great Rivers Land Trust promotes the preservation and improvement of natural resources in the watershed of the Mississippi for the benefit of the general public.

To learn more about conservation, hunting, Illinois investments in parks and historic sites click here.