Stop by Brooklyn Greenway Initiative’s office for our monthly open house on Thursday, July 7th, and find out what’s in store for this summer along the greenway! We are always looking for new volunteers, and we’re also happy to answer questions and meet our neighbors.
BGI’s office is located at 145 Columbia Street, between Kane and Degraw. Open house hours are 6:00-7:30PM. Questions? Contact Brian at bmccormick(at)brooklyngreenway.org or 718.522.0193.
An invitation from our friends at QUEEN OF THE SUN:
QUEEN OF THE SUN: What are the Bees Telling Us? is a profound, alternative look at the global bee crisis from Taggart Siegel, acclaimed director of the grass-roots hit THE REAL DIRT ON FARMER JOHN.
Taking us on a journey through the catastrophic disappearance of bees and the mysterious world of the beehive, this engaging and ultimately uplifting film weaves an unusual and dramatic story of the heartfelt struggles of beekeepers, scientists and philosophers from around the world including Michael Pollan, Gunther Hauk and Vandana Shiva. Together they reveal both the problems and the solutions in renewing a culture in balance with nature.
Don’t miss the new Critic’s Choice documentary the New York Times calls “Revelatory!”
QUEEN OF THE SUN: What are the bees telling us? premieres in Brooklyn, NY at the IndieScreen on June 24th-30th! More information at WWW.QUEENOFTHESUN.COM
“Revelatory…honey has never looked so delicious. Or so precious.” New York Times- Critics Choice
“A remarkable documentary that’s also one of the most beautiful nature films I’ve seen.” -Roger Ebert
“The feel-good advocacy movie of the year.” -Box Office Magazine
“A hymn to nature’s under-appreciated pollinators.” – NPR.org
Our monthly clean-ups continue along the Columbia Street section of the Brooklyn Waterfront Greenway. Please join us on Saturday, July 9th from 10:00AM-12:00PM. Tools and gloves provided, all ages welcome!
Columbia Street: Meet at BGI’s office, 145 Columbia Street between Kane & Degraw.
*Weather Update* In case of rain, please call BGI’s office at 718.522.0193 after 8:30AM on Saturday. If the clean-up has been cancelled, there will be an outgoing message to that effect. If there is no message, the clean-up is still on!
Questions? Contact Brian at bmccormick@brooklyngreenway.org or 718.522.0193.
All volunteers are invited to our annual BGI Volunteer Backyard BBQ!
When: Saturday, July 9th, 1:00-5:00PM (or until we kick you and ourselves out!)
Where: BGI’s deck, 145 Columbia Street b/t Kane & Degraw Streets
This is our once a year summer garden BBQ/party on the BGI deck where volunteers old and new can kick back, socialize and share experiences on the Greenway and in life. We will provide grillables and drinks.
You bring your favorite summer dish to share – side, appetizer, dessert, chips, specialty cocktail? – for about 6-8 people and we are in business. Just let us know if you plan to come and what you’re cookin’ up. You can bring a friend, colleague or loved one along too- just forward their name so we can take a head count and plan accordingly.
Please RSVP to Brian bmccormick@brooklyngreenway.org
On Saturday, July 30th, join Brooklyn Greenway Initiative (BGI), Transportation Alternatives (TA) Brooklyn Volunteer Committee, National Park Service, Rockaway Waterfront Alliance and Regional Plan Association (RPA) for the 3rd Annual Brooklyn Waterfront Epic Ride, a 40 mile ride along Brooklyn’s entire waterfront and Jamaica Bay that highlights the potential of a completed Brooklyn Waterfront Greenway combined with a completed Jamaica Bay Greenway.
Following the ride you can go to the beach or make your way back independently via the A train, a Rockaway ferry to Wall Street Pier 11 from Riis Landing (at 3:00PM or 5:00PM) or by riding back on Flatbush Avenue, the most direct route to northern Brooklyn. Register today!
Want a little taste of the ride right now? Check out http://bit.ly/BKepic09
This event is supported by the National Park Service and NYS Department of State Local Waterfront Revitalization Program under Title 11 of the NYS Environmental Protection Fund.
Funding for this event is also provided by the JM Kaplan Fund, Brooklyn Community Foundation and New York City Council Members Brad Lander and Stephen Levin.
Environmental Protection Commissioner Cas Holloway today announced the 15 winners of DEP’s 2011 Green Infrastructure Grant Program. Selected from a total of 52 applications, the 15 winners will share approximately $3.8 million of funds to build green infrastructure projects that will reduce combined sewer overflows and improve water quality in New York Harbor. Read the full press release here
Brooklyn Greenway Initiative (BGI) was awarded $462,259 for the Brooklyn Greenway Columbia Street Green Infrastructure Project, which will install infiltration planters and porous concrete in the sidewalk along an entire block of Columbia Street between Sigourney and Bay Streets in Red Hook.
The project will remove street runoff from the combined sewer system by directing the water into the planters. The project will reduce CSOs to the East River by managing approximately 285,000 gallons of stormwater per year from 10,400 square feet of roadway. Brooklyn Greenway Initiative will partner with local organizations to enhance residents’ participation in design and stewardship of the project.
BGI co-founder Milton Puryear said, “One of our priority goals for the Brooklyn Waterfront Greenway is to create a 14-mile green infrastructure backbone along the East River that will over time make it possible to remove much of Brooklyn’s East River watershed from the combined sewer system. We hope this grant will help us build a working partnership with NYC Department of Environmental Protection in support of that goal.”
Patagonia recently held its 2011 Bike to Work Week, part of a company-wide initiative to encourage the use of non-motorized means of transportation, and Brooklyn Greenway Initiative (BGI) was thrilled to be selected as a local partner.
This year’s program, held June 5-11, reinforced Patagonia’s promotion of the environmental benefits of alternative commutes, and many stores partnered with a local transportation advocacy organization. Beyond providing these organizations with a venue to recruit supporters and spread their message during our Bike to Work Week, local Patagonia stores supported these groups financially – the more miles employees rode during their weekly commute, the more money Patagonia donated to the organization!
BGI was selected as the local partner by the Patagonia Upper West Side store. Last week, braving both record-breaking heat and fierce thunderstorms, Patagonia UWS employees bicycled a whopping 638 miles, raising $830 for BGI! Many thanks to the whole crew at Patagonia UWS for their ongoing support of the greenway.
On June 4th, Recycle-a-Bicycle’s Youth Ambassadors presented their public art project “Past, Present & Future: Exploring the Brooklyn Greenway” to Dan Wiley and the Historic Districts Council.
See photos here and check out the project in person the next time you’re on Columbia Street!
Below are photos from earlier phases of this project: