Philly Leader

Philadelphia Union has detailed its plans for the Greener Goals Initiatives, celebrating Earth Day with activities scheduled in the lead-up to their home match against Atlanta United FC on April 19. The match, which Subaru of America sponsors, will take place at 7:30 p.m.

On April 15, the Union will organize its annual clean-up and tree planting event along the waterfront in Chester and Barry Bridge Park. Notable participants will include Union defender Nathan Harriel, midfielder Indiana Vassilev, staff members, volunteers, and fans. Volunteers will be provided with necessary tools to assist in collecting trash and planting 30 native mature trees, with Subaru of America volunteers present.

In a creative endeavor for Green Goals, a wood carver from M+F Creations will craft a five-foot snake sculpture. Scheduled to be completed before the game on April 19 at Subaru Park, the sculpture will then be auctioned off to benefit a local sustainability non-profit organization.

Earlier, on April 8, a joint effort by the Union and Subaru of America involved refurbishing planters at Edgmont Scholars Academy in Chester. Volunteers planted flowers, vegetables, and herbs, while the Philadelphia Horticultural Society guided students in maintaining the plants.

The Union's commitment to sustainability extends beyond the Earth Day initiatives. Since 2021, Subaru Park has maintained zero-landfill status, a first in Major League Soccer. The stadium ensures over 90 percent of waste is either reduced, reused, or recycled. By April 19, it is expected to have diverted two million pounds of waste from landfills.

"Subaru Park was the first soccer-specific stadium in Major League Soccer to reach the milestone," the team noted, underscoring their dedication to environmental responsibility.