Wow! Our annual Go Green! BK Festival on Saturday, June 1 could not have been a bigger hit. Over 100 exhibitors, all committed to greenifying their practices and working towards sustainability, came to McCarren Park on a sunny afternoon to meet people, offer activities, and enjoy the musical, culinary, and artistic offerings of our community. In the words of fabulous folk artist All the Things, “Going GREEN means putting our planet and environment at the forefront of our daily choices.”
Among many community leaders in New York City, Go Green! Brooklyn was thrilled to host Audubon NY, Big Reuse, the Billion Oyster Project, Eagle Street Rooftop Farm, Greening Greenpoint, Greenpoint Tree Corps, Newtown Creek Group, North Brooklyn Neighbors, North Brooklyn Parks Alliance, NYC Department of Environmental Protection, NYC Urban Soils, NYS Department of Environmental Conservation, OUTRAGE, The People’s Firehouse, Riverkeeper, St. Nick’s Alliance, Waterfront Alliance and so many more.
Several alternative energy providers came to discuss sustainability in power, including Brooklyn Solarworks, CleanChoice, Green Mountain Energy, NY Power Authority, Solar One, and Venture Solar. Alive Structures created a beautiful display of greenery at their booth to show what they can do to make an indoor space a mini-garden or jungle!
A huge diversity of offerings, including a mini soccer game, an obstacle course, boat balance challenge, nature walks, acupuncture, relationship advice, puppetmaking, and microscope viewings were available for attendees to participate in. Breakin’ Boundaries NYC curated an entire day of outdoor health and wellness classes. What a joy to see different neighbors and fitness coaches dancing together on the McCarren lawn.
It was also a great networking opportunity for activists, community advocates, government agencies and local elected officials. For example, our NYS Assemblyman Joseph Lentol, NYC District 33 Council Member Stephen Levin, NYC Comptroller Scott Stringer, Brooklyn District Attorney Eric Gonzalez, 511NY Rideshare, The Riders’ Alliance, NYPD, NYC Department of Environmental Protection, NYS Department of Environmental Conservation, NYC Department of Sanitation, NYC Department of Transportation all had a presence at Go Green! BK Festival.
NYS Assemblymember Joseph Lentol attended and passed out reusable canvas bags. Public schools Bronx Science HS, MS 126, and PS 34 displayed the green initiatives that they are teaching our kids in class. Our Green Stage was powered in part by Brooklyn SolarWorks. Local musicians Ultrasuede, All the Things, Jen Urban and the Box, Shakuri, & Abbie Roper all jammed out to the crowds relaxing on our lilypad-style shaded lounge area. The Kids’ Stage was full of joy and childlike wonder with visits from AudraRox, CityParks PuppetMobile, WR Arts Dance Team, Hopalong Andrew, Williamsburg School of Music, Anna Banana, and The Good Ms. Padgett.
As local favorite baseball team Brooklyn Cyclones put it, “When we support Mother Nature, we all win!” It is a joy for Town Square to organize this annual festival. Reach out and let us know if you want to be involved next year. For a complete list of exhibitors, check out gogreenbk.nyc. Be sure to follow @gogreenbk and @townsquarebk, and sign up for our newsletter to hear about green events.