Last Tuesday, community leaders gathered in-person for the grand opening of the Greenpoint Library and Environmental Education Center. Many also joined online for the virtual presentation. With funds from the Greenpoint Community Environmental Fund (“GCEF”), the old library was demolished over three years ago and a brand new 15,000 sf building was built. GCEF was a result of a 2011 settlement between ExxonMobil and New York State over the infamous Greenpoint oil spill. The Greenpoint Library is the largest project that was funded by GCEF and of all the GCEF projects, will likely have the greatest impact for this generation of Greenpoint residents and generations to come. Designed with extensive community input, the new building is more than twice the size of the previous drab one-story building. There are now dedicated reading areas for adults, children and teens. There are spaces for community programs as well as regular library programming. There are small and large meeting rooms, and beautiful green public spaces on the roof and ground floor. It was a momentous morning for the Greenpoint community. NYC Mayor Bill de Blasio dropped by to cut the ribbon and NYS Assemblyman Joe Lentol received a Key to the Library for all his tremendous and steadfast support and hard work throughout the years that resulted in this amazing new library. Thank you to the library staff, community members and local elected officials – and most of all, THANK YOU to Assemblyman Joe Lentol!
