The Santa Monica Pier Ferris Wheel will be lit green and blue on Saturday, April 22, in recognition of Earth Day.

Pacific Park on the Santa Monica Pier’s solar-powered Ferris wheel “Goes Green” with a variety of green and blue colors, patterns, and icons, along with a spinning globe for Earth Day on Saturday, April 22.

Earth Day is an annual event on April 22 to demonstrate support for environmental protection. First held on April 22, 1970, it now includes a wide range of events coordinated globally including 1 billion people in more than 193 countries. For more, visit earthday.org

The Pacific Wheel’s 174,000 LED lights are mounted on the Ferris wheel’s structure including the 40 spokes and two hubs. The world’s only solar-powered Ferris wheel’s lighting system features 16.7 million color value combinations while the programming and display software presents imaging up to 24 frames per second to display dynamic, custom, computer-generated lighting entertainment. The eco-friendly, enhanced LED lighting provides 81 percent greater energy savings than most Ferris wheel’s traditional incandescent bulbs.

Its Easy Being Being Green

Pacific Park is committed to being a leader in its industry for green initiatives and sustainability. This dedication is evident in the air by the world’s first solar-powered Ferris wheel and on the ground with the introduction of the world’s first wind-powered midway game, among a variety of other business greening initiatives.

The City of Santa Monica recognized Pacific Park with a 2020-2021 “Gold GoSaMo Achievement” award for reducing vehicle trips, congestion, and greenhouse gas emissions in the city. The GoSaMo program is designed to help employers and property managers comply with local transportation regulations and assist commuters, residents, and visitors to find the mobility options that best suit their needs.

Pacific Park received the “Excellence in Stewardship of the Natural Environment” award at the 15th annual Sustainable Quality Awards by the City of Santa Monica, the Santa Monica Chamber of Commerce and the nonprofit Sustainable Works.

Pacific Park was an early adopter of the City’s organic collection program. Every day, visitors to the Pier contribute to rubbish and trash being added to local landfills. In addition to recycling plastics, cans and cardboard, Pacific Park collects organic materials from its kitchens and concessions to be diverted from the landfill to the City of Santa Monica’s organics program. To learn more about how organics are reused by the City, visit www.smgov.net.

Pacific Park also supports Heal the Bay’s Santa Monica Pier Aquarium and their beach clean ups, and the Bay Foundation in their initiatives to rebuild local habitats for local, endemic flora and fauna.

Make Earth Day Last All Year Long

There are many ways you can make Earth Day every day: Consider reducing your carbon footprint by making small changes to your daily routine, like taking public transportation, walking or biking instead of driving and turning off lights when you leave a room. Shop sustainably by purchasing foods with less packaging and buying products made from recycled materials that can be reused or repurposed later on. Educate yourself about environmental issues so you can spread awareness in your community and encourage others to make sustainable choices as well!

Additional Resources

For more information on green organizations, sustainable businesses and environmental education programs in Los Angeles, visit the following websites:

• The City of Los Angeles’ Environmental Affairs Department has a list of local green groups on its website. Click here to see it!
• Sustainable LA is an interdisciplinary university-wide initiative aimed at applying UCLA research, expertise and education to help transform Los Angeles into the world’s most sustainable megacity by 2050 — making it the most livable, equitable, resilient, clean and healthy megacity, and an example for the world. Check it out here!
• The California Center for Sustainable Communities is committed to work that enhances justice and equality, and to conducting responsible science in the public interest, deeply informed by input from under-resourced communities. Check it out here!

Earth Day is a time to celebrate the planet we live on and all of its inhabitants. It’s also a reminder that we need to continue protecting our environment in order to ensure that future generations can enjoy it as well. At Pacific Park, we have many ways for you and your family to get involved with this important holiday!

Feature image courtesy of @el_pep562