After another year of uncertainties and unpredictability we are extremely grateful for everyone who helped support our mission to Reveal, Restore, and Revitalize Newtown Creek. Whether you volunteered at a cleanup event, helped maintain some of the green spaces we manage, attended a virtual event, or helped spread word about the state of the Creek and the projects we are working on – we want to say thank you! We are proud of the work we have accomplished together and excited for what 2022 has in store (stay posted for some upcoming announcements!).
Here is a brief look back at some of our highlights from the past year:
NCA 2021 Numbers:
- Over 3,400 total participants attended 98 separate NCA events
- 33 field trips and classrooms visits with local schools
- Over 34,000 lbs of trash removed at 12 different cleanup events around the Creek
- Planted over 1,750 native plants at pollinator garden sites we help manage in Brooklyn and Queens
- Documented and reported 16 pollution issues impacting the health of Newtown Creek
Key Impact & Events:
- Launched our Newtown Creek Urban Ecology Story Maps
- Published a multi-year analysis of Water Quality in Newtown Creek while continuing weekly water sampling May – October
- Paidge Ave Pollinator Pathway expansion in Greenpoint
- Created two new Pollinator Gardens with students and staff at WHSAD and HPCMS
- The fifth annual Kingsland Wildflowers Festival
- Open Hours and horticulture workshops at Kingsland Wildflowers
- A Monarch’s Journey, co-produced with NOoSPHERE Arts and CreateART for Insectageddon 2021
- Established a network of soil moisture sensors at Kingsland Wildflowers
- Honored George Trakas, Laura Hofmann, Sane Energy & the No NBK Pipeline Coalition at our annual Tidal Toast benefit, held at the Newtown Creek Nature Walk
Partnership and Coalition Highlights :
- Launched the RAIN Coalition (with Gowanus Canal Conservancy, Bronx River Alliance, and Hope Program) beginning weekly maintenance of 15 individual Rain Gardens in Brooklyn and Queens
- Launched the North Brooklyn Open Space and Equity Coalition with NBK Parks Alliance, El Puente and NBK Neighbors
- Partnered with the Hunters Point Library to showcase Spring Flowers, Water Quality, Pollinator Pathways, and Floating Marshes.
- Established Air Quality Sampling Program in partnership with the NYU Center for the Investigation of Environmental Hazards to test various areas along Newtown Creek
- Joined the No NBK Pipeline coalition at public events, rallies, public comment sessions, and rate case hearings to push back against continued investment in local fracked gas infrastructure
- We continue to advance the Dutch Kills Loop project. (Check out this recently completed report about the project from a Hunter College design studio we worked closely with.)
Creek-Wide Milestones:
- The long-awaited opening of phases 2 and 3 of the Newtown Creek Nature Walk (manager by NYC DEP)
- Opening of Under the K Bridge Park (managed by North Brooklyn Parks Alliance)
- EPA’s decision to not pursue the OU-3 Early-Action cleanup (a plan, strongly opposed by the CAG)
We look forward to having you join us in 2022 for more events, advocacy, and hands-on work to improve the ecological conditions around Newtown Creek and better connect the surrounding communities to this invaluable waterway. To help support our work, please consider making a donation today!
* The Newtown Creek Alliance is a recognized 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization. Donations are tax deductible to the extent allowed by law.