Volunteer opportunities and climate-focused cultural events across all five boroughs for Earth Day and beyond.
WhenEarth Dayfirst debuted on April 22 , 1970 , NYC ’s then - city manager had already established the first civic - based Environmental Protection Administrationin 1968 . Since then , NYC has launched a serial publication of challenging climate alteration policies ( peculiarly in the last two decades)—including agoalof sending zero - waste to landfills by 2030 ; settingtargetslike carbon copy - loose electrical energy by 2040 and net - zero carbon emissions by 2050 ; and passinglegislationthat requires all fresh ontogeny to incorporate solar panels and dark-green spaces .
While there have beendefinitesetbacks , NYC retain an abundance of fiercely dedicated community system wholly focused on extenuate the effects of the climate crisis .
This yr , to take advantage of the saltation weather ( particularly for a skilful crusade ) and the newly - immunized freedom for some , we offer opportunity for hand - on volunteering and IRL ways to support the 52nd anniversary of Earth Day . From events and computer programming hosted by organizations across all five boroughs , here are some ways to help make a difference .
Snug Harbor Cultural Center and Botanical Garden
Help cultivate 30,000+ acres of city parks all month long
NYC ’s Department of Parks & Recreationoversees over 30,000 Akka of the city , include million of Tree ( literally ) , almost 1,000 vacation spot , 800 athletic discipline , thousands of athletic courts , plus beaches , pools , nature centers , and more .
In recognition of the 2022 paper , Restore our Earth , NYC Parks has a whole passel ofactivitiesthroughout April ( and beyond ) to keep Earth Day : atree plantingat Cunningham Park ( Queens ) on April 22 ; aclass on Georgia home boy makingwith garden herbs and substantive oils at the Phoenix Community Garden ( Brooklyn ) on April 22 ; anurban wildlife nature walkat the William T David Wildlife Refuge ( Staten Island ) on April 23 ; avolunteer eventat Van Cortlandt Park ( Bronx ) on April 23 : and achallenge to roll up local datum on biodiversityat Forte Greene Park ( Brooklyn ) on May 1 .
Immerse yourself in a Staten Island botanical haven
Back in the seventies , creative person and activists came together to win over the City of New York to buy the property that , today , has become theSnug Harbor Cultural Center & Botanical Garden . Today , it ’s a thriving cultural imagination for the populace — feature 14 botanical garden ( including a Chinese Scholar ’s Garden and a Tuscan Garden , root on by a 18th C garden in Florence ) ; one of the city ’s oldest concert hall ; and edifice showcasing classic computer architecture ( which boniface fine art and history exhibitions ) .
On April 23 , Snug Harbor will host aCompost Site Tourevent . Attend to learn more about food waste and how composting is done across the metropolis through various systems .
Partake in Bee-A-Pollinator Service Day
Dating back more than three centuries , the 47 - acreQueens County Farm(currently on the National Register of Historic Places ) resides on NYC ’s largest plot of land of self - hold tillage . Based in Floral Park , it comprises a greenhouse coordination compound , planting fields , an orchard and herb garden , and historical farm building .
On April 22 , visit the farm forBee - A - Pollinator Earth Day Service Day , to clean up the property , take an apiary walk with an NYC beekeeper , experience a self - pass nature magpie hunt , and read about composting .
Amp up your gardening skills
What begin as a garden society exhibit over five acres is now a prosperous botanic centre of attention in Flushing . TheQueens Botanical Garden , home to an urban forest of 800 tree diagram ( from crabapple to gingko biloba ) , brush up its master plan in 2020 to indorse a holistic urban imaginativeness of connecting the H2O , culture , and environs through garden construction .
On April 26 , the Queens Botanical Garden hosts itsFarm Community Volunteer Day , invite the residential district to help grow develop that will be distributed to nutrient buttery and community in need . pick up the bedrock of gardening and take part in a multifariousness of activities including raking , weeding , harvesting , garden layer sustenance , and more .
Almost three X after its formation , theRandall ’s Island Park Alliancehas help transform the island — nestle between the Bronx , Manhattan , and Queens — into a mutation and diversion hub ( 60 acrobatic airfield , state - of - the - artistic production running and airfield center , and 20 tennis courts ) and a innate wildlife finish , by furbish up wetlands to improve water quality , protect wildlife inhabitants , and growing green goods through RIPA ’s Urban Farm .
New York City Department of Parks & Recreation
On April 29 , take part in itsArbor Day Plantingevent by planting trees native to the park followed by a tour of its natural areas .
Head uptown for an all-day Harlem Earth Day fest
On April 23 , watch out the all dayHarlem Earth Day Festivalfeaturing a series of event as part of a community initiative to support local business in the area . love amusement like live medicine and disc jockey spin tracks , along with food from Harlem vendorsThe Cecil , Steakhouse , Afterwards , shop for eco - friendly goodness that admit arts and crafts , wellness detail , and vesture .
Participate in an event from the Fort Greene Park Conservancy
Walt Whitman is credit with sway Brooklyn to show Fort Greene as its first official park in the former 1840s . Since then , this 30 - Accho downtown parkland has ascertain a local community of almost 200,000 residents enjoy its green land area of open fields , wheeling mound , and playgrounds .
On April 23 , theFort Greene Park Conservancyholds its annualEarth Day issue — where local can volunteer to clean up the park and learn about the sustainable enterprisingness being deployed onsite .
Join the Hudson River Park Green Team
TheHudson River Park Trust(established in 1998 ) was set up to assure a public park and sanctuary was built , designed , and operated along the Manhattan shoreline . The River Project maintains the 400 - Accho estuarine asylum , pore its campaign around fish ecology , shoreline rubble , pathogens , microplastics , and water character .
On April 23 and extra dates throughout the year , offer with the HRPK Green Teamto cultivate your green thumb with their gardening staff while lop , trim , and more to learn acquisition while help a suitable cause .
Snug Harbor Cultural Center and Botanical Garden
The Queens County Farm Museum
Randall’s Island Park
Fort Greene Park
Hudson River Park
