aircasting greenpoint: citizen science for clean air...

The Greenpoint Community Environmental Fund is a joint program of the New York State Office of the Attorney General and Department of Environmental Conservation.

AirCasting Greenpoint: Citizen Science for Clean Air HabitatMap, Inc.

This project proposes to implement a community-based participatory research project that will: 1) equip Greenpoint residents with wearable sensors and smartphones for recording, mapping, and sharing air quality measurements; and 2) provide the Greenpoint community with innovative ways to visualize and make sense of the collected data to reduce air pollution exposures and address community concerns related to air pollution, health, and quality of life. Major activities include:

• surveying Greenpoint residents regarding their air pollution concerns;

• training participants in air quality sampling, health tracking, and data analysis;

• conducting a GIS analysis to examine relationships between air and health;

• performing a policy analysis to identify initiatives for improving air quality in Greenpoint;

• working with community-based organizations to review potential clean air initiatives;

Grant Request $235,388

Value of Applicant & Partner Contributions $893,508 Location Greenpoint Independent Review Committee Score: 73/100


Project Goals

• 20% reduction in exposure to fine particulate air pollution for participants;

• Inform community action to reduce exposures to air pollution; and,

• Demonstrate how community-based research can make substantial contributions to scientific understanding and public policy.

Project Partners

• Newtown Creek Alliance

• Sonoma Technology, Inc.

• New York University School of Medicine

• New York University Robert F. Wagner Graduate School of Public Service

• organizing a workshop during which Greenpoint participants, trained in air quality sampling and data analysis, can transfer their knowledge and findings to others.

Personal exposures to air pollution will be reduced via avoidance, once residents are made aware of neighborhood “hot spots”, by behavior change, once participants are made aware of which activities and behaviors have the largest negative impact on the quality of the air they are breathing, and by the community action, once residents are educated as to their air quality environment and how this is related to pollution generating activities and the policies which regulate them. By piloting this state-of-the-art program in Greenpoint and publicizing the community’s findings, AirCasting Greenpoint will raise Greenpoint’s profile at the local, state, and national level thereby helping achieve policies that address community concerns related to air pollution, health, and quality of life.

About the Greenpoint Community Environmental Fund (GCEF) The GCEF is a $19.5 million grant program created by the New York State Office of the Attorney General and Department of Environmental Conservation with monies obtained through a settlement with ExxonMobil over its Greenpoint oil spill. The GCEF’s goal is to fund projects that will address the Greenpoint community’s environmental priorities through a process that is open, transparent, and ensures ongoing engagement and partnership with the community.

The Greenpoint Community Environmental Fund is a joint program of the New York State

Office of the Attorney General and Department of Environmental Conservation.

Curb Your Litter: Greenpoint Greenpoint Chamber of Commerce

Curb Your Litter: Greenpoint proposes a coordinated

effort to address the structural deficiencies and

behavioral patterns that have led to Greenpoint’s litter

problem. This project proposes to implement a strategy

to significantly reduce litter in Greenpoint.

Major project activities include:

an on-the-ground analysis of the community’s litter

problem;

conducting an education and outreach anti-litter

campaign that includes training 15 Greenpoint-based

students to serve as community mentors;

delivering solid waste management and recycling

curriculum at Greenpoint schools;

involving businesses by asking them to take a “Clean

Greenpoint” pledge;

engaging residents in six community litter cleanup

days; and

using the community litter analysis to work

collaboratively with the NYC Department of

Sanitation to adopt structural improvements,

Grant Request

$569,145

Value of Applicant & Partner

Contributions

$269,980

Location

Greenpoint

Independent Review

Committee Score: 75/100



Project Goals

Install more traditional and

innovative trash receptacles

containers on underserved

areas;

Improve neighborhood solid

waste management; and,

Develop both community

members and visitors as litter

stewards.

Project Partners

NYC Department of

Sanitation

ClosedLoops

Placemeter

Center for Urban Pedagogy

New York University Center for

Urban Science and Progress

(CUSP)

The CUSP Open Trash

Observatory

Neighbors Allied for Good

Growth

NYC Community School

District 14, including Frances

Perkins Academy,

Automotive High School, MS

126, PS 110, PS 34, and PS 31

such as adding more traditional and innovative trash

receptacles (e.g., solar, three-bin recycling) in high

traffic areas of Greenpoint.

The negative impacts of littering are numerous and

pervasive. This project seeks to reduce the amount of

litter in Greenpoint green spaces, streets and sewers. By

incorporating waste education and outreach in all

project phases, Curb Your Litter: Greenpoint will teach

residents and visitors the importance of proper litter

disposal to help ensure the neighborhood’s streets stay

clean, and keep reduce litter in Greenpoint’s land and

water.

The project will be conducted in three overlapping

phases: Phase 1: a litter assessment of Greenpoint; Phase

2: a coordinated education and outreach litter-

reduction campaign; and Phase 3: the implementation

of infrastructure improvements.

About the Greenpoint Community Environmental Fund

(GCEF)

The GCEF is a $19.5 million grant program created by

the New York State Office of the Attorney General and

Department of Environmental Conservation with monies

obtained through a settlement with ExxonMobil over its

Greenpoint oil spill. The GCEF’s goal is to fund projects

that will address the Greenpoint community’s

environmental priorities through a process that is open,

transparent, and ensures ongoing engagement and

partnership with the community.


Greening Greenpoint City Parks Foundation

This project proposes to develop and implement a comprehensive urban forestry plan for Greenpoint. The three-year project will increase canopy cover by planting new trees and performing maintenance on existing street and park trees. The environmental and social benefits of trees are well–documented, and are recognized to restore and protect air, water, and land resources. The project will also increase pervious surface area, thereby protecting Greenpoint’s water bodies by reducing combined sewer overflow discharges. Major project activities include:

• Planting 500 new street and park trees; • Installing 325 tree guards, and planting bulbs and

groundcover around street trees; • Removing up to 25,000 sq. ft. of impervious

concrete around 675 existing tree beds; and • Training and equipping tree stewards from

Greenpoint schools and community to elevate the level of engagement in long-term tree pruning and care

Grant Request $1,950,719

Value of Applicant & Partner Contributions $1,958,786 Location Greenpoint Independent Review Committee Score: 75/100


Project Goals

• Create new tree canopy cover;

• Promote healthy long-lived trees;

• Add one acre of new green space overall to Greenpoint;

• Treat 787,500 gallons of stormwater annually;

• Eliminate 13,000 pounds of local air pollution in the neighborhood; and,

• Train and educate community members to act as tree stewards long-term.

Project Partners

• Trees New York

• City Parks Foundation-Partnership for Parks

• MillionTrees NYC

• NYC Department of Parks and Recreation-Forestry

• Open Space Alliance for North Brooklyn

• Greenpoint Chamber of Commerce

Additionally, up to 10 high school juniors and seniors from Greenpoint will be selected to participate in an urban and community forestry paid internship program. The interns will receive environmental education and hands-on training focused on developing their skills in urban forestry and involving field trips and seminars with “working” professionals from environmental and natural resources fields. New and healthier trees will benefit all Greenpoint residents. The planting and care of trees on the streets and parks, increasing the overall tree “canopy”, and a community-wide forestry program provides for storing and capturing carbon dioxide and other types of air pollution, reducing stormwater pollution, lowering summer temperatures on streets, and creating wildlife habitat and adding native plants back into Greenpoint’s environment.




West Street Watershed Stormwater Project Brooklyn Greenway Initiative, Inc.

This project proposes to design and install 54 right-of-way

bioswales and greenstreets covering 4,845 sq. ft. on the

ten streets that slope toward the East River between

Manhattan Avenue and Franklin Street.


community engagement in site selection and project

design;

site assessments and selection;

design, construction, and planting of bioswales and

greenstreets; and

performing maintenance of plantings.

The project will result in a substantial decrease in the

volume and frequency of raw sewage releases from the

city’s combined sewer system by installing bioswales and

greenstreet “bulb outs” on sidewalks and streets in the

area bounded by Franklin Street and Manhattan

Avenue, and Green and Calyer Streets. This green

infrastructure will capture and treat over 6 million gallons

of stormwater annually, or 35% of the stormwater from

Grant Request

$1,917,717


Contributions

$5,030,000

Location

The area bounded by Franklin

Street and Manhattan Avenue,

and Green and Calyer Streets

Independent Review




Project Goals

Capture and treat 6.4 million

gallons of stormwater annually

and reduce combined sewer

overflows;

Restore native plants and

habitats;

Improve air quality and

reduce ambient

temperatures; and

Decrease chronic flooding

and sewer backups for 10,910

people living in the project

area.

Project Partners

NYC Department of

Transportation

NYC Department of

Environmental Protection

NYC Department of Parks and

Recreation

Open Space Alliance of North

Brooklyn

WE Design

eDesign Dynamics

the project area that otherwise would contribute to

sewer overflows and pollute the East River.

Bioswales (sometimes referred to as garden swales) will

be installed on each block in places where they meet

the guidelines for setbacks from buildings, driveways,

street trees and other street infrastructure. Garden swales

resemble long tree pits that are intensively planted with

salt tolerant, hardy, and attractive, perennial plants,

native grasses, shrubs, and trees.

Greenstreet “bulb outs” will be installed at the Franklin

Street end of all blocks and on Franklin Street itself, in

places where they will not conflict with existing street

trees, hydrants, bus stops, etc. Bulb outs are curb

extensions that curve out into the roadway to create a

wider planting area. They provide for enhanced

stormwater capture and treatment. Bulb outs will have

the additional benefit of making crossing distances

shorter for pedestrians on Franklin Street.

Bioswales and greenstreets offer benefits beyond

capture and treatment of stormwater. The trees and

other vegetation in them will improve local air quality by

storing and capturing carbon dioxide and other types of

air pollution, and will lower ambient temperatures by

reducing the retention and radiation of heat from

paved surfaces. This green infrastructure will also create

spaces for the restoration of native plant communities in

areas that have become devoid of native flora.


(GCEF)












Greenpoint Business Environmental

Stewardship NYS Pollution Prevention Institute @ RIT

This project proposes to assist Greenpoint

manufacturing companies to take proactive,

voluntary measures to reduce their environmental

impact on the community.

This project will work with local companies to identify

and implement pollution prevention/environmental

improvements for their operations, with a specific

focus on manufacturing, and help develop solutions

that have long-term positive and sustained

environmental benefits to the community.

Major activities will include:

conduct two workshops about “best”

environmental manufacturing practices to

integrate into day-day-day operations;

perform a sustainability assessment of the

manufacturing processes at 10 companies

looking for pollution prevention/source

reduction opportunities;

Grant Request

$402,202


Contributions

$364,601

Location

Greenpoint

Independent Review




Project Goals

Improve air and water quality

and energy efficiency;

Reduce toxic pollutants and

hazardous waste associated

with manufacturing

operations; and,

Improve the overall

environmental footprint of the

community by helping

companies implement

environmentally beneficial

projects.

Project Partners

Industrial and Technology

Assistance Corporation (New

York State designated

regional Manufacturing

Extension Partnership serving

Brooklyn)

Greenpoint Chamber of

Commerce

Greenpoint Manufacturing

and Design Center

St. Nick’s Alliance

Ten Greenpoint

manufacturers, including

potential participants:

o Jos. H. Lowenstein

o The Sarut Group

o Grady's Cold Brew

o Acme Smoked Fish

provide participating companies with a

comprehensive report of findings and

opportunities for environmental improvement;

document expected costs of the proposed

solutions, and identify sources of funding and

financial assistance;

recruit six companies and help them to make

changes to their processes that result in

environmental improvements; and,

conduct three public workshops about the

project, including a project kick-off, interim

project update, and a final showcase of

environmental results to Greenpoint residents.


(GCEF)


the New York State Office of the Attorney General

and Department of Environmental Conservation with

monies obtained through a settlement with

ExxonMobil over its Greenpoint oil spill. The GCEF’s

goal is to fund projects that will address the

Greenpoint community’s environmental priorities

through a process that is open, transparent, and

ensures ongoing engagement and partnership with

the community.



Greenpoint Eco-Schools: Creating a Legacy of

Sustainability National Wildlife Federation

This project proposes to implement a comprehensive

environmental education program in four Greenpoint

schools serving a total of 1,800 students. Funding for this

project will support four full-time “Sustainability Coaches”

(one in each participating school) who will directly work

with students, teachers, principals, and parents to

increase student knowledge of environmental issues

while enhancing academic achievement in science and

technology. Project partners will provide $10 million in

energy efficiency upgrades, new boilers for heating,

improved lighting, waste collection, and other

improvements for Greenpoint schools. These much-

needed improvements will serve as “learning

laboratories” for students and teachers to learn about

and take action for the environment.

The program is holistic, making connections to all the

environmental issues that Greenpoint faces, including

Energy, Consumption and Waste, School Grounds,

Biodiversity, Water, Climate Change, Sustainable Food,

Grant Request

$1,434,735


Contributions

$10,732,324

Location

Primarily located within PS31,

PS34, PS110, and MS126, with field

trips and community restoration

projects throughout the

Greenpoint community

Independent Review




Project Goals

Achieve quantifiable

environmental benefits,

including:

o Reducing school waste

by 25% per year;

o Reducing school water

use by 5% per year;

o Reducing school energy

use by 10% per year;

o Reducing use of toxic

chemicals in schools; and,

o Building school gardens or

other projects to increase

green space at schools.

Project Partners


District 14 including: PS 31, PS

34, PS 110, and MS 126

Community Education

Council 14

The Greenpoint Gazette

NYC Division of School

Facilities

NYC Department of

Environmental Protection

NYC Department of

Sanitation

NYC School Construction

Authority

NYC Department of Citywide

Administrative Services

Change My World NOW

Children’s Environmental

Literacy Foundation

Healthy Living, Transportation, and Healthy Schools.

Sustainability Coaches would work with teachers,

principals and parents to develop an Eco-Action team

and an action plan in each school around a variety of

topics. For example, student teams would audit air

quality at their school and use resulting information to

suggest and implement projects like eliminating toxic

cleaning chemicals, installing “living walls” inside and

outside the school, and/or establishing “no-idling zones.”

Other general project activities include:

• rewarding schools for sustainability progress, up to

$10,000 per school, per year;

• providing each school with $5,000 for a ‘community

action project’ within the Greenpoint community;

• creating a safe social media platform for students

and parents to measure environmental actions at

home;

• building off of other GCEF projects to inspire students

to learn about specific environmental initiatives in the

Greenpoint community; and

• conducting three community forums to expand

community-school partnerships.

Overall, the project will seek to develop a well-educated

and empowered generation of student leaders and

local residents who are both environmentally aware and

motivated to take action to address problems.


(GCEF)












Solar One's Green Design Lab Environmental

Education Program CEC Stuyvesant Cove, Inc.

This project proposes to implement an interactive

environmental education program -- powered by

student-led greening projects -- serving 1,200 students at

six Greenpoint schools for 15 months. Educators from

Solar One, a local NYC non-profit, will work directly in the

schools, one day per week, up to four classes per day,

instructing and co-teaching through hands-on activities.

Major activities include:

delivering a Science, Technology, Engineering, and

Math (STEM)-based curriculum and teacher training

on energy, air, and food;

conducting a school walk -through to identify areas

for reducing electricity use and improving

environmental health in school buildings;

participating in the Green Design Lab’s Energy

Challenge which offers schools a chance to win

cash prizes for projects aimed at conserving

electricity; and

installing school-wide sustainability projects to

complement the curriculum.

Grant Request

$201,505


Contributions

$45,000

Location

Primarily located at PS 110, PS 34,

PS 31, MS 126, Believe Northside

Charter High School, and

Automotive High School

Independent Review




Each Greenpoint school involved in the project will

participate in the Energy Challenge. Other schools that

have participated in the Energy Challenge have reduced

their electricity use by an average of 7-8%, with some

achieving as much as 30% reductions.

Approximately 80% of the electricity used in New York City

is generated by power stations using fossil fuels, including

those very close to Greenpoint, in Long Island City and

Astoria. By reducing electricity use, fossil fuel use by nearby

power plants is reduced; improving air quality and

reducing related health risks in Greenpoint.

Each participating school will receive an energy audit and

a building walkthrough. Working with students, Solar One

educators will assist in identifying areas for reducing

electricity use and improving environmental health in the

school building. These recommendations will be forwarded

to the NYC Department of Education for consideration. The

educators will also help each school design and

implement a school-wide, student-led sustainability project.

Through these hands-on activities, the Green Design Lab

will inspire students to apply their learning not only to their

classrooms and schools, but also to their homes, and to

change their behavior in ways that improves the health,

quality, and sustainability of their school environments,

homes, and community.

Project Goals

Achieve a 7-8% or greater

average electricity use

reduction at each school;

Increase student

environmental literacy and

critical thinking; and

Cultivate the next generation

of environmental stewards.

Project Partners


District 14 including: Believe

Northside Charter High

School, PS 110, MS 126, PS 34,

PS 31 and Automotive High

School

NYC Department of

Education, Division of School

Facilities


(GCEF)












Greenpoint Community Green Roof Newtown Creek Alliance

This project proposes to install a 40,300 sq. ft. intensive

green roof, and conduct educational programming

focused on stormwater management and habitat

creation. The proposed green roof will be located on the

Automotive High School (AHS) and Frances Perkins

Academy Building.


structural analysis of the AHS roof;

designing and installing the green roof;

green roof maintenance training for students and

community members;

delivering public education about the roof

through tours, programs, signs, and social media;

and

developing a curriculum to support science and

technology classes at both schools.

A green roof or “living roof” is planted with vegetation

that uses specialized protection, drainage and irrigation

Grant Request

$1,229,000


Contributions

$407,007

Location

Automotive High School and

Frances Perkins Academy, 50

Bedford Ave.

Independent Review




Project Goals

Provide habitat for native

birds and pollinators;

Treat 75,000 gallons of

polluted stormwater annually;

Capture air pollution;

Reduce the urban heat island

effect; and,

Potential heating savings of

up to 145.5 million Btu

annually.

Project Partners

Newtown Creek Alliance

Highview Creations


District 14 including:

o Frances Perkins Academy

o Automotive High School

systems placed on top of the existing roof. The green roof

on AHS will create an expansive permeable surface that

will be able to retain over 75,000 gallons of stormwater

annually. It will prevent rain from flowing freely into the

combined sewers, which can overflow into Newtown

Creek and the East River when it rains.

Green Roof systems have multiple other environmental

benefits. The proposed green roof will promote local

ecologies by increasing biodiversity, help reduce the

“urban heat-island effect,” and potentially lower energy

costs at the school. Additionally, green roofs are a

recognized and practiced method of improving water

quality in the City of New York's PlaNYC 2030 sustainability

initiative.

Finally, the green roof proposed at AHS and Frances

Perkins Academy will act as a platform to teach residents

and students about urban ecology, natural systems,

combined sewer systems, and the importance of green

infrastructure in urban environments.


(GCEF)

The GCEF is a $19.5 million grant program created by the

New York State Office of the Attorney General and










Greenpoint Environmental Education Center at

Greenpoint Library Brooklyn Public Library

This project proposes to remodel the existing Greenpoint

Library as a “Leadership in Energy and Environmental

Design” (LEED) silver certified building, and create a

Greenpoint Environmental Education Center (GEEC) in

the new second floor and rooftop outdoor classroom.

LEED buildings are designed, constructed, operated, and

maintained based upon sustainability standards related

to water and energy efficiency, use of “green” materials

and resources, and improved indoor environmental

quality.

The project will design and construct “green” building

components, including a green roof and 200 square feet

of community composting space. The project will also

replace 10,700 square feet of concrete with native plant

landscaping and permeable pavers. Further, the project

will install energy efficient windows, high efficiency

heating, ventilation, and air conditioning and lighting

systems, water efficient plumbing systems and fixtures,

rainwater harvesting and other storm water runoff

Grant Request

$5,000,000


Contributions

$6,030,300

Location

107 Norman Avenue at

Leonard Street

Independent Review




Project Goals

Create the Greenpoint

Environmental Education

Center;

Remodel the Greenpoint

Library to achieve LEED Silver

Green Building Certification;

Reduce water and air

pollution and energy use

annually, including treating

70,000 gallons of storm water,

removing 33,600 pounds of air

pollutants, and reducing

water use by 50,000 gallons

and heating and cooling use

by 80%; and,

Create new open space for

public use.

Project Partners

Newtown Creek Alliance

Greenpoint Waterfront

Association for Parks and

Planning

Neighbors Allied for Good

Growth

North Brooklyn Boat Club

NYC School District 14: Francis

Perkins Academy, MS126,

Automotive High School, PS31,

PS34, and PS110

Friends of Brooklyn Public

Library – Greenpoint Branch

SolarOne

City University of New York,

Center for Urban

Environmental Reform

Town Square

Community Board One

control systems, eco-friendly interior finishes, furniture and

furnishings, and alternative energy systems such as solar

arrays and wind turbines.

Both during and after construction, the library will

conduct workshops and presentations for Greenpoint

schools, community groups, and residents about the

green building and its environmental benefits.

The GEEC will be housed in the new second floor of the

library and provide an outdoor classroom on the rooftop.

The GEEC will provide more than 300 educational

programs per year to promote environmental awareness

and stewardship, supplemented by a standing collection

of environmental resources including materials about

Greenpoint and Newtown Creek.

The remodeled Greenpoint Library will serve as a hub for

community-based environmental programs, exhibits, and

information in partnership with local environmental

groups, Greenpoint schools, and residents. Meeting

space will be available for use by community

organizations.


(GCEF)











Box Street Park Construction: Enhancing Greenpoint's Recreation NYC Department of Parks and Recreation

This project proposes to support the design and development of a new 2.81 acre city park to be constructed on Box Street on the Newtown Creek waterfront. Major project activities include:

• remediating soil, and potentially groundwater, contamination;

• stabilizing the shoreline and repairing degraded shoreline infrastructure;

• installing green infrastructure, such as bioretention areas, to treat polluted stormwater;

• elevating the lower portion of the park to keep flood waters away from its upland section and the adjacent neighborhood; and

• creating a partnership with local schools and youth groups to explore the ecosystem of the East River and the surrounding park.


Value of Applicant & Partner Contributions $1,999,000 Location 65 Commercial Street Independent Review Committee Score: 71/100


Project Goals

• Remediate and develop a 2.81 acre park;

• Provide 265 feet of waterfront access along Newtown Creek;

• Enhance the usability of the waterfront with active and passive uses;

• Improve coastal resiliency;

• Reduce impacts from storms;

• Capture and treat polluted stormwater.

Project Partners


• NYC Economic Development Corporation

Box Street Park has been planned since 2005, and City of New York agencies are working to relocate the site’s current occupants -- a Metropolitan Transit Authority (MTA) Para-Transit vehicle storage facility and an MTA Emergency Response Unit. The initial design work for the Park is fully funded and the requested GCEF grant will support funding to enhance the design and for construction of the Park. Improvements to the park may include, but will not be limited to: provision of active recreational spaces, such as a multipurpose field, smaller practice fields, and lawn spaces, a dog run, and passive recreational spaces such as landscaped pathways with sitting areas, and an esplanade connecting the waterfront to the park, providing views of Newtown Creek and the East River.



Greenpoint's Southern-Most Park: Remediation and Development NYC Department of Parks and Recreation

This project proposes to remediate environmental contaminants, stabilize eroding shoreline, and repair shoreline infrastructure in order to add another 7.5 acres to the development of a new city park on Bushwick Inlet. Major project activities include:

• remediating soil, and potentially groundwater,

contamination; • developing a design for the park addition with

substantial community input; • stabilizing existing shoreline, creating new

shoreline, and repairing shoreline infrastructure; • developing the parcel using a soft edge and

green upland to address flooding and stormwater control; and

• creating a partnership with local schools and youth groups to explore the ecosystem of the East River and the surrounding park.


Value of Applicant & Partner Contributions $6,000,000 Location 1 Franklin Street Independent Review Committee Score: 77/100


Project Goals

• Complete remediation and development of 2,080 linear feet of waterfront along the East River.

• Increase the available neighborhood open space, waterfront and on-the-water access by approximately 2.5 acres of land and approximately five acres of open water.

• Make the shoreline of Greenpoint more ready to buffer against future storms, treat polluted stormwater, and enhance habitat for local and migratory birds.

Project Partners


• NYC Department of Citywide Administrative Services

Primarily, this project will advance long-held community open space goals for Greenpoint, although it will also benefit the environment by:

• Permanently shielding the site from development pressures by acquiring and protecting the site as parkland;

• Increasing the available neighborhood open space and waterfront access by approximately 2.5 acres of land and approximately 5 acres of open water;

• Improving public health with the addition of recreation opportunities;

• Allowing for waterfront habitat restoration, including enhancing habitat for over 75 species of local and migratory birds;

• Allowing for the remediation of vacant underutilized waterfront land.

The project will provide high-quality open space, with 2,080 feet of shore frontage and will bring approximately 13,100 more Greenpoint residents to within a 10-minute walk of a park.




Grow Greenpoint Project GrowNYC

This project proposes to build a comprehensive

educational and greening network, using McCarren Park

to engage students and community members in

environmental stewardship of the land, through the

hands-on experience of gardening.


building a 7,200 sq. ft. demonstration garden in

McCarren Park modeled after a typical Greenpoint

backyard, coupled with community and school

workshops using the site to teach about green

infrastructure and gardening techniques for

backyards, rooftops, and community spaces;

creating a 5,200 sq. ft. walking garden and green

infrastructure corridor in McCarren Park using

bioswales to demonstrate how pollution is removed

from stormwater.; and

providing opportunities for community members to

volunteer at the McCarren Park to help maintain the

demonstration and walking gardens and develop in-

depth skills in this type of innovative gardening.

Grant Request

$450,000


Contributions

$287,500

Location

McCarren Park

Independent Review




Project Goals

Treat 252,000 gallons of

storm water;

Create new “green” areas;

Promote the greening of

privately-owned spaces;

and,

Provide new community

meeting space.

Project Partners

Open Space Alliance for

North Brooklyn

NYC Department of Parks

and Recreation-Green

Thumb

Local, interested

Greenpoint community

gardeners, homeowners

and backyard renters.

The demonstration garden, and walking garden and

green infrastructure corridor, will have large multi-lingual

signs providing information on urban environmental

sustainability, stewardship, conservation, and urban

gardening. This information will address the risks of

contaminated soil and the benefits of raised beds, how

to build a simple raised bed, what variety of plants do

well in certain conditions and times of the years, and the

pros and cons of using a roof space for gardening.

The green infrastructure will capture and treat a

significant percentage of the stormwater that falls at the

Park. Bioswales (sometimes referred to as garden

swales) resemble long tree pits that are intensively

planted with salt tolerant, hardy, and attractive,

perennials, native grasses, shrubs, and trees.

The bioswales and green infrastructure provide many

other neighborhood benefits including storing and

capturing carbon dioxide and other types of air

pollution, helping to lower summer temperatures in the

park, and creating wildlife habitat.


(GCEF)











Intertidal Wetland Project Research Foundation of CUNY (LaGuardia Community College)

This project proposes to assess degraded shoreline sites along Newtown Creek currently comprised of rip-rap and eroded bulkheads for their potential for greening using “constructed” wetland habitat. Major project activities include:

• creating conceptual designs in collaboration with

the community and professional contractors for intertidal wetland construction at two shoreline sites;

• advancing one of the two sites to a fully engineered design, including construction drawings, cost estimates, and permits;

• installing “soft” salt marsh habitat areas along the walls of existing “hard” bulkheads; and

• expanding marsh habitat units already installed on bulkhead walls at existing sites.

Grant Request $130,178

Value of Applicant & Partner Contributions $130,911 Location Greenpoint shoreline Independent Review Committee Score: 76/100


Project Goals

• Increase the number and extent of intertidal salt marsh areas on Newtown Creek to provide habitat for native birds, small fish, clams, crabs, and other wildlife; and

• Improve water quality by restoring “ecological services” like the filtering pollutants in waterways by bi-valves (ribbed mussels, blue mussels etc.) which will live in constructed wetland habitat.

Project Partners

• LaGuardia Community College

• NYC Department of Environmental Protection

• Newtown Creek Alliance

• North Brooklyn Boat Club

• Outside New York

• City Parks Foundation

Salt marsh wetlands were the natural shoreline habitat of Newtown Creek. It is estimated that Newtown Creek once had nearly 1200 acres of tidal wetland along its banks. The salt marsh and tributaries that once constituted this rich estuarine ecosystem have been severely degraded by fill and development.

The constructed wetland proposed in this project will improve the water quality of Newtown Creek. The sheltered environment of these wetlands, however, will provide many additional environmental benefits. They will provide refuge for small fish and vertebrates. Accumulated sediment in them will provide habitat for worms, clams, snails, fiddler crabs and amphipods, which will serve as food for larger crabs and fish. Additionally, wading birds, such as herons and egrets, are attracted to the invertebrate life of the low salt marsh, and sandpipers, ducks, geese and cormorants are drawn to the salt marsh.


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