Earth Day, the annual day dedicated to supporting environmental protection, is on Saturday, April 22 and Brooklyn orgs have a number of community events for tree-huggers of all ages. Learn more about the local environment, help keep it clean, and have a little fun this Earth Day!
Brooklyn Public Library Earth Day event
BPL and Solar One, a STEM nonprofit organization, team up to present their renewable energy projects that make the different library buildings more resilient and reduce carbon impact on the grid on April 22 from 11 a.m. until 2 p.m at the Central Library.
“We are delighted to mark Earth Day with activities across the borough,” a library spokesperson said. “On Earth Day and every day of the year, Brooklyn Public Library is committed to sustainability and minimizing our carbon footprint. We have reduced our greenhouse gas emissions by 40% and have dedicated Greenpoint Library to the exploration of the environment. We encourage everyone to join us on Earth Day and all year long to learn about conserving resources and protecting the planet.”
Featured activities include solar powered car races, STEM focused crafts, demonstration of the BPL renewable system production and educational movie screenings.
The event is free for all ages but attendees are encouraged to reserve a spot online.
The network will also celebrate their environmental impact with collaborative artwork unveiling at their Bay Ridge location. The piece by Katie Dodd focuses on the 199 different tree species in the neighborhood.
Saturday, April 22, 11 a.m.-2 p.m. Free to attend, RSVP in advance. Brooklyn Public Library Central Branch, 10 Grand Army Plaza.
Park Slope Fifth Avenue BID pollinator garden ribbon-cutting
Park Slope families are invited to celebrate Earth Day at the Park Slope Fifth Avenue BID Earth Day event.
The day kicks off at 11a.m. with a ribbon cutting to welcome the BID’s expansion of their Greenspace on President Street.
According to a group spokesperson, the addition features a mini-park with pollinator plantings and an expansion beyond its fenced boundaries with an expanded 53 inch sidewalk tree bed.
The BID will install and plant the pollinator garden, provide new plants as needed, and its sanitation crew will keep the new green tree beds free of trash. Volunteers are invited to maintain and water the garden and provide the necessary gardening tools.
“The pollinator garden will provide a shady haven for pedestrians as well as an opportunity for people to enjoy some greenery on the street and to get involved in its maintenance, Joanna Tallantire, executive director for the Park Slope 5th Avenue BID said in a statement. “While our bustling 30 block commercial corridor is filled with more than 500 small businesses, there’s not a lot of green space. That’s why we’re thrilled to enhance GreenSpace at President Street, a haven of calm and natural beauty enjoyed by so many in our community.”
The day will continue with an art project, a tree care training session and education on the borough’s open streets programs scheduled for this summer.
Saturday, April 22, 11 a.m. Free to attend. The Greenspace @ President Street at the corner of President Street and Fifth Avenue in Park Slope.
Park clean-ups around Brooklyn
Exercise those green thumbs at a park clean up hosted by the Prospect Park Alliance. Spend Earth Day giving back to Brooklyn’s backyard by volunteering to clean up litter, cultivating soil, laying mulch and caring for street trees along the park perimeter.
The day of service begins at 11 a.m. and requires pre-registration.
If the slots are full for the Prospect Park volunteer day, head over to The Old Stone House and Washington Park off Fourth and Fifth avenues where the Park Slope Civic Council invites all to a spring sweep, pick up trash, remove unwanted graffiti and more starting at 10 a.m. until 2 p.m.
Bay Ridge Cares Cannonball Park volunteer event
Travel down to Southern Brooklyn to help spruce up John Paul Jones (Cannonball) Park. Bay Ridge Cares, in partnership with Bay Ridge Environmental Group invites do-gooders to paint, plant, and add beauty to the greenspace.
“Our group’s mission has always been to help our neighbors recognize that protecting and beautifying our planet can begin right here at home,” said Daniel Loud, president of Bay Ridge Environmental Group. “Our parks are so important to our community, and so, we’re incredibly excited to have gotten the chance to organize such a special beautification and celebration of Cannonball Park.”
According to the event website, organizers plan to plant hydrangeas and rose bushes, placing mulch and cleaning the gazebo.There will also be a station for little ones to plant their own herbs to bring home.
Don’t leave before heading to their free Children’s show at 1 p.m. featuring The Crazy Science Show, an entertaining science program where the kids will get a hands-on experience.
Sign up to volunteer or see the show online.
Saturday, April 22. 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Free to attend/volunteer, sign up in advance. John Paul Jones Park at 101st Street and 4th Avenue in Bay Ridge.
Block Party
The North Flatbush Avenue BID is throwing their annual Earth Day block party on Bergen Street between Flatbush and Fifth avenuse starting at 1 p.m.
The festivities include live music, seed planting, arts and crafts, opportunities for recycling, games and giveaways.
According to James Ellis, executive director for the North Flatbush Avenue BID, the event looks to celebrate the neighborhoods and bring various aspects of the community together.
“Our goal as an organization and business improvement district is to be stewards of our neighborhood and bring attention to our special place – this time with an interactive day for neighbors, partners and our North Flatbush Ave and Bergen Street businesses to learn and share more about environmental conditions and responsibility,” Ellis told Brooklyn Paper
Attendees are encouraged to bring any old electronics from home for safe disposal. This can include old laptops, cell phones, tablets, tvs, or cameras.
Select games will be hosted by StreetLab NYC. Follow the BID on Instagram for more information on the free event.
Saturday, April 22. 1 p.m-5 p.m. Free to attend. Bergen Street between Flatbush and 5th avenues in Flatbush.
Coney Island Park Day
Council Member Ari Kagan hosts an Earth Day event at Kaiser Park at 12 p.m. alongside community partners, NYP Parks Department, Brooklyn Public Library, Coney Island Beautification Project, Wildlife Conservation Society and others.
https://twitter.com/CMAriKagan47/status/1646936325830897664/photo/1
According to a spokesperson with Kagan’s office, the council member strongly believes in doing everything he can to ensure we live in a beautiful and clean city, and has allocated funding to environmental organizations like the New York Aquarium and the Billion Oyster Project as well as hosted council hearings on city preparedness for hurricanes and storms,
Bring the whole family out for a day of arts and crafts, face painting, carnival games, and storytelling.
Saturday, April 22. 12 p.m. – 3 p.m. at Kaiser Park, 2592 Neptune Ave. in Coney Island.
