It’s called the concrete jungle for a reason, but have you ever imagined NYC as a green travel destination? You might not have considered it, but there are plenty of ways to contribute, enjoy, and engage with the city on an eco-friendly level during a stay to the city, without giving up on the skyline, sunsets, and sights throughout the region. If you’re coming to NYC in June, Go Green BK Festival should be your first stop, but there are lots of springtime opportunities just around the corner.
Eco-Tourism describes the new wave of tourists from all over the planet traveling to “Green Regions” around the world. Tourists visit these areas for the explicit reason of funding ecological conservation, infusing economic development into regional communities, and to highlight and provide stimulus to the well-being of individuals living in the locality.
Oftentimes, as the name suggests, these trips bring wanderers to less trafficked, greener regions of the world, untouched by the attention of industrial overdevelopment. Despite this, it’s always important to remember that the rest of the world needs to stay green too, and as Greenpointers, this isn’t lost on us.
Past Problems and New Solutions
New York City is among one many large cities with an infamous and storied past of problematic pollution. However, unbeknownst to some, Brooklyn is also the unfortunate victim of the catastrophic Newtown Creek Oil Spill. The decades-past event still haunts the city to this very day, and efforts to heal the surf, shore and soil are still in progress.
Eco-Tours Through New York
Go Green BK sees sprouting potential to bring a growing garden of eco-tourists to the borough! It might sound strange, but with over 60 million tourists flocking to New York City alone each year, we can safely assume there are a few arborists, gardeners and gallivanters taking the trek to Central Park and the riverfront, some of which might just be willing to help a hand while connecting with the community at the same time.
For all the brick and stone, Greenpoint and NYC are home to growing uniquely green spaces. One of the freshest examples of this is Kingsland Wildflowers, which has become a glowing example of modern and green open space. Join them for their upcoming event, Community Science on the Banks of Newtown Creek, to learn all about NYC’s wildlife.
Whether you’re looking to explore a new borough or an entirely new city, here are some ways to lend a hand to greening the streets, sidewalks, and shores of Brooklyn.
Find a Green Community in the Concrete Jungle
There are lots of opportunities to participate in green events with like minded people, and you can find many on Go Green BK’s comprehensive calendar. Meet people who want to change their corner of the world in a little way at Green Seeds Networking Event. Join your fellow Eco-Activists for a night of performances and discussion on how to decolonize and greenify art and explore the intersection of social and environmental issues, at Others Unite! A Social and Enviro Art Forum. Also, pick up some free unique NYC souvenirs at Town Square’s Seasonal Greencycle Swap.
North Brooklyn Boat Club
The North Brooklyn Boat Club might sound like it’s all in the name, but the group truly makes seafaring in Brooklyn an immersive experience for the uninitiated. The community sailors host community conversations, gardening, film screenings and, of course, boating!
The boating club often restores and builds their boats in-house, so if you’ve ever wanted to whittle away and float along in your own homemade craft, the club can show you how. Check out their calendar for great boating events.
Newtown Creek Alliance
Our last stop on the adventure takes us to the Newtown Creek Alliance. From increasing salt marshes on the shores of North Brooklyn to growing knowledge and activities in the community, the organization has played an immense role in rehabilitating the waters of Newtown Creek.
The association is a great stop for those looking to get an incredibly up-close look at the healing steps after an oil spill, help out, or looking to simply get the lay of the land, these are the people to help you do it. Maybe you’ll head home with some eco-initiatives for your own neighborhood!
All of these adventures in Greenpoint are just one stop on what can be an incredibly lush visit to the city. Whether you’re taking a tour of Central Park or experiencing the Botanical Gardens, we hope all of New Yorker’s visitors have a chance to leave a flowering signature somewhere among our parks, sidewalks, and city streets!