City of Wenatchee recognizes Children’s Environmental Health Day

WENATCHEE — The Wenatchee City Council has proclaimed October 9 as Children’s Environmental Health Day, joining a nationwide effort to highlight the connection between healthy environments and healthy children.

Councilmember Charlie Atkinson read the proclamation during the Oct. 9 council meeting, emphasizing the importance of clean air, safe water, and healthy surroundings in every child’s development. The declaration calls on local families, schools, and organizations to continue building a safer, more sustainable community for future generations.

First observed in 2016 and organized by the Children’s Environmental Health Network, the day is celebrated annually on the second Thursday in October. It serves both as a reminder of environmental progress and a call to action for advocates working to reduce pollution, promote sustainability, and address health inequities that affect children nationwide.

Accepting the proclamation, Lisa Pilkinton of the Chelan-Douglas Health District thanked the council for spotlighting the network of local organizations already advancing children’s environmental health in North Central Washington.

“It’s so great that we’re highlighting all the work already being done here in our community,” Pilkinton said. She pointed to partnerships between Sustainable NCW and CAFÉ, which promote bicycle education and sustainable transportation for students, as well as the Chelan-Douglas Land Trust and Wenatchee Outdoors, which work to get families active and connected with the outdoors.

Those collaborations, she said, reflect a broader regional effort to make Wenatchee a place where environmental stewardship and public health go hand in hand.

The council’s proclamation reinforces that safeguarding children’s health — whether through clean air, outdoor access, or community design — requires ongoing cooperation across agencies, nonprofits, and neighborhoods.

Andrew Simpson: 509-433-7626 or andrew@ward.media