NYC Ferry returns this year as our In Your Neighborhood Transportation sponsor and HEP welcomes its new shoe and clothing sponsor, Sperry, to the City of Water Day team!
Now in its 15th year, City of Water Day, is a free region-wide day organized by the Waterfront Alliance, the NY-NJ Harbor & Estuary Program, and other great partners to raise awareness about the dangers we all face from sea level rise and climate change, and to advocate for a climate resilient New York and New Jersey harbor.
This year’s In Your Neighborhood theme centers on how the power of the creative arts can help us address the climate crisis. We want to create spaces where stewardship organizations and artists can explore and innovate as they engage the public about climate change and its impacts. And like every year, we are eager to work with our partners in neighborhoods across the estuary to uplift work that advances equitable access to the waterfront and educates the next generation of climate leaders.
The climate is changing, and so must we. City of Water Day aims to educate and inspire action to meet this challenge.
*City of Water Day In Your Neighborhood Award Recipient
| Event | Organization | Description | Event Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| *City of Water Day | City of Perth Amboy | Join the Perth Amboy Green Team on City of Water Day for chance to participate in sailing and kayaking rides provided by the Raritan Bay High School Sailing Foundation. In addition, residents will also get a chance to learn about climate change issues through learning experiences made possible by a partnership between the Green Team and community stakeholders. The event will take place at the waterfront area towards the end of 2nd street in Perth Amboy and will be open to all residents. Visit their website at: https://www.perthamboynj.org/ | Waterfront area towards the end of 2nd street in Perth Amboy, New Jersey |
| *Paterson’s 2nd Annual City of Water Day | Passaic River Coalition | Join the Paterson Green Team and Passaic River Coalition at the Passaic River waterfront this City of Water Day! Activities this day include cleanup of park and waterways. fishing, boating, watching rescue on river by Fire Department and more! Open to community members of all ages. Learn more at www.passaicriver.org | West Side Park at the Pavilion. The Pavilion is our base but participants will be going forth to various locations within the park , along the Passaic River and small tributaries, including Molly Ann Brook. Riverfront location for fishing, boating etc. will be along the concrete steps in the park. |
| *City of Water Day on Hoboken’s Public Waterfront | Fund for a Better Waterfront | Fund for a Better Waterfront is partnering with Hoboken Cove Community Boathouse, Resilience Adventures and other great partners to celebrate City of Water Day on Hoboken’s Public Waterfront! The event will highlight the importance of a public, accessible and resilient waterfront. Free activities will run all day, including STEM community science and oyster habitats with Resilience Adventures, kayaking with the Hoboken Cove Community Boathouse, youth and family fishing clinics with the Hudson River Fishermen’s Association, a community bike ride along the waterfront with Bike Hoboken, a tour of the waterfront with FBW’s Ron Hine, music by local vibraphonist Gus Hurteau and mural-making for kids on the waterfront with Hoboken local artist and FBW volunteer Ann Marshall. Be sure to stay on top of their planned activities by visiting them here: www.betterwaterfront.org/ | Hoboken Cove, located in Maxwell Place Park at 11th street and Sinatra Drive North, Hoboken |
| *Raritan Landscape Reemergence: Awakening Lyell’s Brook Through Dance | Lower Raritan Watershed Partnership | Join the Lower Raritan Watershed Partnership (LRWP) for a very special City of Water Day celebration at the #FRAME in New Brunswick’s Boyd Park! LRWP will be joined by Rock Dance Collective which will perform a choreographed demonstration of engagement with the newly installed #FRAME sculpture. The choreography and sculpture will work in concert to showcase the potential for new interactions between people, the built environment, and the natural landscape. Rock Dance Collective works in both nontraditional and traditional spaces, responding to societal and environmental stimuli to create meaningful works. Additional in-person activities will include hands-on water quality monitoring demonstrations, discussion of water quality monitoring results and general outreach regarding climate change impacts to New Jersey’s riverine environments. The first 100 participants will receive free reusable bags, and the first 48 participants will receive copies of The Carbon Almanac (public release date 7.16.2022). Stay on top of their latest news here: www.lowerraritanwatershed.org/event/july-16-city-of-water-day/ | Elmer B. Boyd Park |
| *City of Water Day Hoboken | Resilience Adventures | Meet Resilience Adventures at the Hoboken Waterfront this City of Water Day as they provide hands-on estuary exploration focused biodiversity and water quality at the Hoboken Cove Beach. Activities will include catch and release with seine netting, hand nets and crab/fish traps and more! Visit them here for more information: www.resilienceadventures.org | Hoboken Cove Beach |
| The Arthur Kill Blueway: An Environmental Asset within a Federal Marine Highway | Future City Inc | Join Future City from the comfort of your home on City of Water Day. FCI will virtually host and share an educational video introducing The Arthur Kill Blueway, which is a vital environmental and economic waterway. In their video, they will present important environmental information regarding the area by analyzing the quality of air, water and marine life. The goal of this educational video is to inform everyone of the importance of the Arthur Kill Blueway, as well as motivate inspiration to create a resilient and sustainable future. You can keep up with FCI on their facebook page here: www.facebook.com/FutureCityInc/ | https://youtu.be/n0TevMR9frw |
| Gardenship x COW – ART On The Edge Of NJ’s Urban Waters | Kearny Point Gardenship | Visit Gardenship to participate in a mural update activity and chance to dance on the riverfront! Other activities will include an Instagram Photo Contest and a viewing of a short documentary. Visit here to keep up to date on events: www.facebook.com/gardenship.art/?view_public_for=110604420645080 | Kearny Point Gardenship |
| City of Water Day | Hoboken Cove Community Boathouse | Join the party at the Hoboken Waterfront! Hoboken Cove Community Boathouse will have have a free kayak trip from 9 am to 11 am, taking about 20 participants out on the water. Then activities like kayaking, paddle boarding, and outrigger canoeing will be available in their protected cove from 11 am to 3 pm. Keep updated on events at: Hobokencoveboathouse.org | Beach at Maxwell Place Park |
| Art Meets Climate Change on the Hudson River | Hudson River Sloop Clearwater | On this City of Water Day, we will offer two of our Sailing Classroom programs for the Tenafly Nature Center in Alpine, NJ. In our typical 2-3 hour-long sail, students participate in inquiry-based learning stations to examine Hudson River life, perform water quality tests, explore indigenous history, and help navigate the ship. In our City of Water Day programming, we will include an art station led by artist Ashawna Abbott, Education and Outreach Coordinator for Mohonk preserve, which will have learners create a collaborative poster where they can write messages about why they stand for climate justice that will be put together in the shape of a Hudson River fish. Drop in programming is available from 2pm-4pm at the Alpine Boat Basin. No registration required, but check out their website at www.clearwater.org/ | Alpine Boat Basin |
| Traveling HAB Lab…In Your Neighborhood | NJCWST @ MSU | The Montclair University Traveling HAB Laboratory is joining the City of Water Day party at the Hoboken Waterfront this year! Aiming to boost environmental awareness of harmful algal blooms (HAB), water quality, and water conservation, they will provide an interactive educational experience to citizens of any age about water science of their local watershed, the effects of climate change on our waters, HABs, and other water quality indicators and issues. This will be accomplished by the use of an enviroscape to simulate pathways of contamination, a microscope to show some cyanobacteria that may cause a HAB, macroinvertebrates as a first sign of water pollution, and other materials related to water quality research. Their goal is to protect New Jersey’s valuable water resources and provide knowledge of the risks associated with HABs for the ecosystem and human health. To learn more visit: www.montclair.edu/water-science/environmental-services/ | Hoboken Community Boat House |
| Schooling the Community | Rahway River Watershed Association | Reclaimed wood will be pre-cut into fish shapes and painted by members of the community at Rahway RiverFest, June 25 and 26. Rahway RiverFest is an annual celebration of the Rahway River that takes place at the Rahway River Watershed Association headquarters. The theme of RiverFest 2022 is sustainability. The completed painted fish will be assembled into a sculpture depicting a school of fish and displayed in Rahway which will be unveiled on City of Water Day. The concept of this project is to call attention to the native fish that live in our rivers, harbor and ocean, and to bring awareness to the need for clean water, habitat protection and restoration of ecosystems and the environment. There will be an open house on City of Water Day, from 5pm-6pm, to view the art installation! Learn more at: https://rahwayriver.org/ | The Rahway River Watershed Association Watershed Learning Center |
| Event | Organization | Description | Event Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| Climate Change and the Seas | National Lighthouse Museum | Join the National Lighthouse Museum on City of Water Day as they offer engaging exhibits on pollution and the effects of climate change on the ocean environment. Find out more about their event here: www.lighthousemuseum.org/events/ | National Lighthouse Museum |
| *Staten Island EJ Waterfront Symposium | Staten Island Urban Center | Join Staten Island Urban Center at their Staten Island EJ Waterfront Symposium virtually or in-person this City of Water Day! The event will include art exhibitions, music, and featured speakers. Topics to be discussed at the Staten Island EJ Waterfront Symposium include waterfront adaptation planning, storm mitigation that amplifies natural solutions, how to address pollution and other environmental health concerns, brownfield and superfund sites, emission-free transit investments, renewable energy opportunities, public access to the waterfront, and creation of a decarbonized waterfront. You can register to join them here: https://tinyurl.com/57yc84jv and for more information visit their website here: www.siurbancenter.org | Snug Harbor Cultural Center, Building P Lobby |
| Event | Organization | Description | Event Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| *Waterfront Access for the South Bronx! | South Bronx Unite | Join South Bronx Unite at their Waterfront Access for the South Bronx event, 11am-2pm, on City of Water Day. Their event will take place at a local community garden just two blocks from the Lincoln Ave Street End project. Participants will get the chance to learn more about the Lincoln Ave Street End project as well as the community’s vision for the entire waterfront. There will be tours of the Lincoln Ave waterfront every half hour, as well as food, music, open mic, and a local thrift shop. Stay on top of their latest event news by following them on facebook: www.facebook.com/southbronxunite | Maria Sola Community Garden |
| *Harlem River Waterfront Tour – High Bridge North | Harlem River Working Group | Join the Harlem River Working Group on their Harlem River Greenway Tour on City of Water Day! Participants are asked to meet on the Bronx side of the High Bridge – 170th & MLK Drive. For more information visit the Harlem River Working Group Facebook page at: https://www.facebook.com/harlemriver/ | Highbridge Park |
| Boogie Down to the Sound | SUNY Maritime College Waterfront | This interactive event is free to the general public and will connect residents to Long Island Sound/East River to increase the use, appreciation, and support for our local waters. Community members can participate in maritime activities such as: Stewardship Activities (i.e. shoreline cleanup, oyster restoration with Billion Oyster Project); Marine Environmental Science (i.e. shoreline exploration/seining, touch tank, water quality monitoring); and Waterfront Community Programs (i.e. kayaking, sailing and boating with qualified skippers). Learn more at: www.sunymaritime.edu/waterfront | SUNY Maritime College Waterfront/McMurray Hall |
| *Celebrating City of Water Day along the Harlem River at Roberto Clemente State Park | New York State Office of Parks Recreation & Historic Preservation/ Roberto Clemente State Park | Visit Roberto Clemente State Park on City of Water Day for a chance to participate in a variety of activities suitable for all ages that include, water sampling, walks along the river, planking, arts and crafts and music. Visit the NY Parks website here: www.parks.ny.gov | Roberto Clemente State Park |
| *Community Rowing | Rocking the Boat, Inc. | Rock City of Water Day this year with Rocking the Boat! This year’s City of Water Day, Rocking the Boat will bring community residents out on the Bronx River to learn about its history and ecological importance, and celebrate community-led efforts to clean up the river and provide an accessible river front for all South Bronx residents. Rocking the Boat is thrilled to present an expanded Community Rowing schedule in 2022—both days per weekend!—and use it as a platform to celebrate City of Water Day. Activities will highlight the importance of parks and greenspaces in advancing equitable access to our city’s waterfront and center the work of the community in restoring and maintaining the ecological integrity of the Bronx River and the larger watershed. Participants will will the chance to get out on the water in rowboats and learn about the history and ecology of the Bronx River from staff—all Rocking the Boat participants or graduates. Rocking the Boat will partner with two artists to present special hands-on experiences to engage guests while they wait for their turn to row. Percussionist Ernesto Abreu will be leading participants in drumming and call and response songs and Wave Hill’s current artist in residence, Maya Ciarrocchi, will lead guests in making cyanotype prints. Keep up with Rocking the Boat at their website: www.rockingtheboat.org/ | Hunts Point Riverside Park |
| Event | Organization | Description | Event Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| *Gowanus Arts Address Our Climate Crisis | Gowanus Dredgers Canoe Club | Join the Gowanus Dredgers Canoe Club and Arts Gowanus, from 11am -7pm, for a shoreline stroll and street walk to view quirky art and environmental restoration activities. In a neighborhood once notorious for industrial pollution and the death of waterfront marine life, a vibrant renaissance and rebirth is underway. Featuring artwork by Gowanus Artists highlighting issues of climate change and waterfront engagement on display outdoors for the entire day and viewable for the month of July and early August at the Gowanus Shoreline public walkway. Arts Gowanus and the Gowanus Dredgers Canoe Club invited a number of artisans to participate and have reproduced their works for display at our waterfront. You may also join them for a small evening reception, 5-7 pm, where we expect participating artists to attend and speak to their works and you can receive updates on the construction underway for over 6,100 new Gowanus apartments. The event is rain or shine but if raining, the social gathering would occur inside Gowanus Dredgers boathouse at 165 2nd St. For more information visit https://gowanuscanal.org/gowanus-arts-address-our-climate-crisis |
Gowanus Shoreline Esplanade |
| *Floating Garden Workshop | RETI Center | Join the RETI center on City of Water Day to help build and launch a floating garden from their barge in Gowanus Bay. RETI Center is constructing a salt marsh environment on our coastline developed by design firm thread collective. Participants will be working to help build and launch a floating garden that incorporates marsh grasses, mussels, oysters and kelp that’s built entirely of salvaged and sustainable materials like scaffolding planks, reclaimed fishing nets, wine corks, salvage steel, and more. All skill levels and ages welcome. Refreshments, all tools and supplies will be provided. Learn more at https://www.reticenter.org/ | RETI Center Barge |
| *Our Varied Expressions of Resiliency | Coney Island Beautification Project | Join Coney Island Beautification Project as they celebrate this year’s City of Water Day by educating residents about sea level rise and resilience. A range of diverse groups will table at Kaiser park, displaying a wide range of climate related messages. Activities will be available for all age levels and all participants will get the chance to express themselves through painting, music, writing and more! Be sure to stay on top of their latest City of Water Day news by following them here: https://www.facebook.com/cibproject/ | Kaiser Park – Bayview Avenue near Coney Island Creek |
| Citizen Science Fishing Clinics | Brooklyn Bridge Park Conservancy | Take part in Brooklyn Bridge Park’s citizen science Fishing Clinics and contribute to ecological surveys with marine biologists. The Conservancy’s rod and reel clinics are designed to introduce the public to the ecology and life of the East River, in order to foster conservation and environmental stewardship of our waterways. Working with expert anglers and a marine biologist, participants will learn the basics of line fishing, while contributing to an ecological survey — helping to monitor the health of our river. All organisms caught are cared for by professionals and safely returned back to the water. To learn more visit https://www.brooklynbridgepark.org/ | Brooklyn Bridge Park, Pier 5 Fishing Station |
| Sebago Canoe Club Open House | Sebago Canoe Club | Join Sebago Canoe Club’s free open house on City of Water Day! Visitors will be able to join short paddling or rowing excursions on Jamaica Bay, Brooklyn, NY. Arrive early, gates open at 10am! Last trip sign up is 1pm and trips fill quickly. Guided group outings led by trip leaders in kayaks, canoes and other rowing vessels will last approximately 30 minutes. All participants must sign a waiver on the day of the event. All minors (under 18) must be accompanied by a parent or legal guardians. Participants must be 16 years old to use single occupancy kayaks. Minors of any age may board any other vessel accompanied by a parent or guardian. All participants must wear properly fitted life jackets (supplied by SCC). Advance tickets strongly recommended. Limited walk-ups. For more info go to https://sebagocanoeclub.org/open-house/. To register go to https://www.eventbrite.com/e/292072425487 | Sebago Canoe Club |
| Gowanus Watermark Walk | Gowanus Dredgers | The Gowanus Dredgers will lead ta shore walk to explore and understand the extent of Superstorm Sandy’s flooding around the Gowanus Canal, and reflect on the past and future flows of water in the neighborhood. While they explore ghost streams, contemplate the Laurentide Ice Sheet of yesteryear, and imagine future storms intensified by climate change, they will delve into the shared history of water and society along the Gowanus estuary, and consider potential futures for this intrepid shoreline. Walk leaders will welcome comments, questions, and input from attendees throughout. To learn more go to http://www.gowanuscanal.org/ | Meet outside Mirror In the Woods, 575 Union St., 2 blocks from R Union St subway station, Brooklyn, NY 11217. We’ll walk roughly 2 miles counterclockwise around the head of the Gowanus Canal along Hurricane Sandy’s flood extent, concluding at the Third St. Bridge near the intersection with 3rd Avenue. |
| Gowanus Science Saturday | Gowanus Dredgers Canoe Club | Join the Gowanus Dredgers Canoe Club at the shoreline to help survey and map the Gowanus Canal. Their underwater drone will explore and record what lies below the surface of the Gowanus Canal. Participants will also get the chance to view some footage captured earlier this season and even get the opportunity to take the helm of their submersible robot! For more information about this event be sure to visit them here: http://www.gowanuscanal.org/ | Gowanus Dredgers Boathouse |
| Community Testing Day | Human Impacts Institute | The Human Impacts Institute’s summer youth fellows are partnering with the NYC Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) and Urban Soils Institute to bring environmental health testing to City of Water Day. Participants are encouraged to bring a sample of soil from their home for Urban Soils Institute to test on-site for heavy metals. DEP will provide exciting education about NYC’s waterways and sewer systems. Participants are encouraged to attend and learn more about the health of their water and soil! Visit them here for their latest updates: www.humanimpactsinstitute.org | Marsha P. Johnson State Park |
| (Re)Imagining Greenpoint’s Green Waters | EXILED TONGUES | (Re)Imagining Greenpoint’s Green Waters integrates artistic programming with community sustainability initiatives to bring wider attention to the polluted waters of Newtown Creek, offering methods that use community participation, techniques of ARTIVISM within an abolitionist framework, and aesthetics of “Theater of the Oppressed” to promote remediation of the Creek. This event on City of Water Day aims to repair the relationship between residents from neighborhoods along Newtown Creek by making the Creek widely accessible to the public. By working with the Newtown Creek Nature Walk, and local nonprofits and businesses our project they showcase the waterfront as a place of pleasure and community building. An interactive public arts festival will be hosted at Kingsland Wildflowers. The festival will feature local artists and community members educating audiences about the ongoing environmental struggles at Newtown Creek. Each artist will have their own salon for community members to easily view and move through and the festival will act as an entry point for residents to share concerns about climate change and racial/environmental justice. It will culminate in the presentation of a sculpted podium which will serve as a symbol for the ongoing community work that needs to be done to bring attention to the Superfund site. In addition to the festival, participants will also get the chance to join canoe tours. For more information visit them here: www.exiledtongues.com | Kingsland Wildflowers/Newtown Creek Nature Walk |
| Citizen Science Fishing Clinics | Brooklyn Bridge Park Conservancy | Take part in Brooklyn Bridge Park’s citizen science Fishing Clinics and contribute to ecological surveys with marine biologists. The Conservancy’s rod and reel clinics are designed to introduce the public to the ecology and life of the East River, in order to foster conservation and environmental stewardship of our waterways. Working with expert anglers and a marine biologist, participants will learn the basics of line fishing, while contributing to an ecological survey — helping to monitor the health of our river. All organisms caught are cared for by professionals and safely returned back to the water. Visit their website for more: https://www.brooklynbridgepark.org/ | Brooklyn Bridge Park, Pier 5 Fishing Station |
| Exploring the Waters | Shirley Chisholm State Park | Learn all about the waters of Jamaica Bay and explore some of the wildlife that lives at Shirley Chisholm State Park on City of Water Day! Stop by anytime for a shoreline scavenger hunt, water quality monitoring, a touch tank of bay critters, and to help clean up the shoreline. Seining demonstrations will also take place at 12pm & 1:30pm, where a large net will be used to catch and count fish from Fresh Creek! Learn more at https://parks.ny.gov/parks/shirleychisholm/details.aspx | Shirley Chisholm State Park, Penn Water Access Area |
| City of Water Day at Billion Oyster Project’s Williamsburg Field Station | Billion Oyster Project | On July 16, 2022 from 10AM – 4PM join Billion Oyster Project (BOP) to celebrate City of Water Day at Domino Park! Connect with BOP to see and learn about oysters in NYC’s Harbor, and water quality throughout our local waterways. | Domino Park (near the River Street and Grand Street entrance) |
| Event | Organization | Description | Event Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| *Public Paddle at Borden Avenue Street End: A Cleanup, Paddling, and Immersive Arts Event | Newtown Creek Alliance | Join Newtown Creek Alliance (NCA) and the North Brooklyn Community Boathouse (NBCB) for a Creekside cleanup and exploration by boat of the forgotten reaches of this local superfund site: Newtown Creek. From 11am – 2pm NCA will host a cleanup at a public access site and street-end along the Dutch Kills tributary of the Creek. At the same time NBCB will be supervising the public paddle event, where attendees will launch canoes and follow NBCB volunteer guides to experience artwork by found-materials sculptor, photographer, and performance artist Marie Lorenz on the water, out of sight from the shore. Stay on top of their planned activities by visiting them here: www.newtowncreekalliance.org | Borden avenue street end; Use Sparks Deli (2831 Borden Ave, Long Island City, NY 11101) to locate |
| *Meet Your Neighbors: the Marsh Birds of Idlewild Park | Audubon New York | Audubon New York has great activities planned for this year’s City of Water Day! They will be at the Idlewild Park Preserve Environmental Science Learning Center from 10am-1pm, with bird walks leaving the center at 10:30, 11:30, and 12:30. Audubon New York is currently working with the NYC Parks Department on a wetland restoration within Idlewild Park, and their event will focus on wetlands, specifically salt marshes, the threats facing them (with an emphasis on climate change and sea level rise), and the beauty and benefits which they supply. A nonprofit that protects birds and the places they need, they will emphasize conservation and restoration of habitats in relation to bird communities. Participants will be encouraged to find their own creative expression through these coastal ecosystems whether it is photography, painting or drawing, sculpture, poetry or creative writing, music, or any myriad of other formats. For more information visit them here: https://ny.audubon.org/events/free-city-water-day-2022-bird-walks-idlewild-park | Idlewild Park Preserve Environmental Science Learning Center |
| Queens Waterfront Bike Tour | NYC Green Thumb | Join NYC GreenThumb on City of Water Day for a breezy ride along the Queens waterfront! On this easy 3.5-mile ride, participants will be biking to GreenThumb community gardens in LIC and Astoria. Along the way, participants will visit gardens that have transformed traditionally industrial waterfront areas into vibrant greens spaces where nature, culture, and community thrive. Riders will experience varied garden spaces: from urban farms with a focus on social justice to relaxing botanical gardens dotted with works of art. Visit their website here: www.greenthumb.nycgovparks.org/ | Smiling Hogshead Ranch |
| *Ecology Walk and Nature Poetry Workshop in Bayswater Park | Natural Areas Conservancy | Join the Natural Areas Conservancy (NAC) at Bayswater Park from 1:30pm – 5pm for a nature walk followed by a poetry workshop and live landscape painting. The NAC is partnering with Jamaica Bay-Rockaway Parks Conservancy (JBRPC), the American Littoral Society (ALS), NYC Parks, local poet Tristan Nevirs, and local visual artist Valentina Gallup Salerni. Don Riepe of the American Littoral Society will lead a nature walk through Bayswater Park starting at 1:30pm. Participants will enjoy views of Jamaica Bay and learn about the impacts of climate change on the landscape, local ecology, and ways to get involved to support big picture climate action as well as more local opportunities to steward their neighborhood trails. After the walk participants will join a nature in poetry writing workshop, followed by an opportunity to perform or recite original works. The workshop will be co-hosted by Tristan Nevirs and Josh Otero, and will include live painting of the landscape by Valentina Gallup Salerni. The event will end at 5:00 for those who choose to stay and share poetry. Participants will be encouraged to write about the themes discussed throughout the day. This event is open for everyone, including families with children. Water, snacks and notebooks will be provided. Event attendance will be capped at 20. This event will be held outside and we will encourage all participants to maintain 6 ft distance from one another. Masks required. Visit their website here: naturalareasnyc.org | Meet at the picnic tables by the comfort station off of Beach Channel Drive between Bay 32 street and Far Rockaway Blvd. |
| Flushing Waterways Dragon Boat Paddle | Guardians of Flushing Bay | Join GoFB from 11am to 1pm, as they partner with Wall Street Dragons, a local dragon boat team, to bring folks to the water where they can learn about issues Flushing Waterways faces and what it takes to be a dragon boater. Please RSVP for this event! Link here: https://tinyurl.com/4rn9mr72 | World’s Fair Marina on the Malcolm X Promenade (formerly Flushing Bay Promenade) |
| Big Rock Beach Cleanup & Excavation | Coastal Preservation Network | Join us from 9am-12pm! We will pick up trash, clip weeds, and work hard to excavate the large mystery object on the beach! Is it a boat? Is it a dock? Whatever it is, it’s buried under sand and dirt and we began unearthing it at our June 16 event. This is the closest that CPN volunteers have ever come to an archaeological dig – come take part! Registration not required; keep up with CPN at: https://www.coastalpreservation.org/ | Big Rock Beach, on Flushing Bay, in College Point. Beach is at the dead end of 28th Ave. & 119th St. |
| RISE Community Kayak Paddle and Clean up | RISE Rockaway (Rockaway Initiative for Sustainability and Equity | Join RISE on City of Water Day as they host a community kayak paddle and clean up on Jamaica Bay on Saturday, July 16th from 11am-1pm. The goal of the event is to foster community through ensuring residents and students have access to the waterfront and play a role in costal restoration to ensure environmental justice. Learn more here: https://www.riserockaway.org/rise/ | Participants will meet at the RISE Center (58-03 Rockaway Beach blvd) and walk over to Jamaica Bay |
| *Jamaica Bay Festival | Jamaica Bay-Rockaway Parks Conservancy | Spend City of Water Day exploring Jamaica Bay! The Jamaica Bay Festival is a fun, family event taking place in Brooklyn and Queens. The Festival celebrates those who share a vision to champion the spirit of the Jamaica Bay community, the unparalleled opportunities and the natural beauty of this urban tidal estuary. Participants can enjoy free kayaking, fishing, surfing, hiking, bird watching, art, nature and more. Activities will be in-person and virtual and will comply with all COVID-19 recommended health and safety protocols and procedures. For more information about the festival and to learn more about each activity be sure to visit Jamaica Bay-Rockaway Parks Conservancy website at www.jbrpc.org/jamaica-bay-festival | Along the shorelines and community areas around Jamaica Bay in Brooklyn and Queens |
| College Point Waterfront: Then and Now | College Point Civic and Taxpayers Association | **This event is on Sunday, July 17th** Join the College Point Civic and Taxpayers Association with the Poppenhusen Institute the day after City of Water Day for their College Point Waterfront: Then and Now event. Local photographer Tito Martinez is presenting a photo exhibition of the College Point waterfront, from local parks to lesser-known access points. The Poppenhusen Institute will also provide archival photos of the waterfront going back to the 19th century. The purpose of this exhibition is to increase awareness of the waterfront, of its diversity and beauty, and to have people reflect about the impact of modern industrialization and policy on access to the waterfront. This weeklong exhibition will begin with an opening reception on Sunday, July 17 featuring a performance by sea shanty singing group Old Fid. Opening Reception: July 17 (2 PM to 4 PM); Exhibit Days and Hours: July 18, 20, and 22 (10 AM to 3 PM) and July 24 (2 PM to 5 PM). For more, see here: https://www.collegepointcivic.com/ | Poppenhusen Institute |
| Event | Organization | Description | Event Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| *Urban Swimming: a New Age for New York | Friends of + POOL | For City of Water Day 2022, Friends of + POOL is planning a one-day, pop-up exhibition of urban swim projects from around the world at Pier 17 (89 South Street), where City of Water Day activities will be taking place, and a series of walking tour through the Brooklyn Bridge Esplanade to Pier 35 (260 South Street), the future site of + POOL and urban swimming in NYC. Projects like the Bassin de La Villete (Paris, France); the Harbour Baths (Coppenhagen, Denmark) and Bondi Icebergs Club (Sydney, Australia) have created urban swimming environments around the world. The exhibition will highlight these aquatic marvels and the accompanying walking tours to the future site of + POOL — what is anticipated to be NYC’s first river-sourced swim facility — will help audiences imagine the possibilities of urban swimming in NYC. During the tour, + POOL docents will discuss stewardship of the river, water quality sampling that is taking place all summer long, and the history of swimming in the river. Tours will depart from Pier 17 every 30 minutes throughout the day. To read more about + POOL, visit: www.pluspool.org | Pier 17 (89 South Street) to Pier 35 (260 South Street) in Manhattan |
| Exploring the Waterfront on Roosevelt Island | Waterfront Alliance | Join Waterfront Alliance from 11am to 3pm at the Roosevelt Island Ferry Terminal as they lead activities and discussions about the water surrounding Roosevelt Island! Waterfront Alliance staff will be testing the quality of the water surrounding the island, comparing the results with commonly found household items. Attendees will also get a chance to explore the effects of storms on waterfronts by playing with our model shoreline and will be able to explore their creative side at a coloring station. Learn more at https://waterfrontalliance.org/city-of-water-day/ | Roosevelt Island Ferry |
| Community Day | Hudson River Community Sailing | Hudson River Community Sailing will be conducting free 1-hour sails from the Dyckman Marina on their 24′ sailboats on City of Water Day! Activities are open to children 5 years of age and up. Children must be supervised by a parent/guardian. Find out more here: https://hudsonsailing.org/inwood | Dyckman Marina |
| *Music on the Half Shell | Billion Oyster Project | Join Billion Oyster Project for an exciting porch side interactive musical piece that will take place at the BOP Exhibit House on Governors Island. There will also be tabling activities and oyster tanks on display. Read more about Billion Oyster Project here: www.billionoysterproject.org | BOP’s main event will be at the BOP Exhibit House at Nolan Park, Governors Island. In addition BOP will also be tabling at the Williamsburg Field Station in Domino Park, and will be present at these other IYN events: Boogie Down to the Sound (Bronx), Sebago Canoe Club Open House (Brooklyn) and Our Varied Expressions of Resiliency (Coney Island). |
| City of Water Day Changemaker Station | The Climate Museum | From 12pm- 3pm, visit the Climate Museum’s Changemaker Station, an interactive hub for civic climate action with activities for adults and children ready to fight for a climate-safe future. Visitors can learn how to raise their voices and take tangible actions in their communities. Children of all ages can participate by creating short illustrated notes describing what they want to protect from climate change. See here for more information:https://climatemuseum.org/2022-events/2022/7/6/city-of-water-day-changemaker-station | Governors Island, Nolan Park, House 18 |
| Wetlab Look-in: City of Water Day | Hudson River Park’s River Project | Meet Hudson River wildlife in the Wetlab, a research aquarium that is free and open to the public. This flow-through aquarium houses dozens of species of fish and invertebrates all caught within Hudson River Park as part of an ongoing ecological survey. The Wetlab is a rotating live exhibit as animals are released throughout the season to ensure that their behaviors are minimally impacted. Celebrate City of Water Day by joining the Park’s River Project staff for a tour of this unique space between 11:00 AM and 3:00 PM to answer all your questions about local wildlife. More information here: https://hudsonriverpark.org/visit/events/event/city-of-water-day-2/ | Hudson River Park’s Pier 40 Wetlab |
| Expanding Table: A Pop (Apart) Opera | Expanding Table | Be sure to check out Expanding Table on City of Water day as they perform songs about empowerment, social justice, water and climate change! Expanding Opera is a 2022 Creative Engagement Project, facilitated by LMCC. They use music: text and song, as well as audience active participation – with song and movement, discussion and – writing prompts, to engage with diverse outdoor audiences. Keep up with them here: www.facebook.com/expandingtableopera | La Plaza Cultural de Armando Perez |
| Free Outrigger Canoe Paddling | New York Outrigger | New York Outrigger will be providing free outrigger canoe paddling from 10am – 2pm from their boathouse at Pier 66 on City of Water Day. Participants will receive land training, learn about outrigger paddling and their organization’s goal of providing equitable access to the Hudson River, and then get to experience paddling one of their six-person canoes. For more information about their event visit them here: www.newyorkoutrigger.org | The Boathouse at Pier 66 |
| East River Park Waterfront Clean Up | Lower East Side Ecology Center | Join the Lower East Side Ecology Center for a litter clean up at East River Park this City of Water Day. All ages welcome but participants are encouraged to pre-register using eventbrite, link here: www.eventbrite.com/e/city-of-water-day-2022-coastal-cleanup-in-east-river-park-tickets-367834612227 | East River Park |
| Our Interconnected Water Ways | Battery Park City Authority | Join Battery Park City Authority at this ideal Hudson-side setting to celebrate and learn about environmental stewardship. Take part in a nature walk, culminating in a collaborative art project. For more information visit their events page here: https://bpca.ny.gov/event/saturday-family-workshop-city-of-water-day/ | Rockefeller Park, Battery Park City |
| Art at the BlueLine | Waterfront Alliance | Join Waterfront Alliance at the Seaport this City of Water Day! Art at the BlueLine is an exhibit of climate art produced by Waterfront Alliance in partnership with The Howard Hughes Corporation and the South Street Seaport Museum. Located by the BlueLine—a marker depicting the future high tide line, six feet above the present high tide—the exhibit invites reflection and action on the risk we all face from sea-level rise and coastal storms. The artists are: Tomorrow’s Sea, by Edrex Fontanilla and Sarah Nelson Wright (July 16-29) Tomorrow’s Sea is an interactive media sculpture with a virtual reality viewer that uses the metaphor of a telescope to transport viewers to five NYC shorelines threatened by climate change and rising sea levels. River Lab, by Mary Mattingly and contributing artists (July 16-31) Shaped like a drop of water, Mary Mattingly’s collaborative initiative River Lab is an interactive and “porous” structure that is in visual dialogue with the East River. You Are Getting Warmer, by Matthew López-Jensen (July 16-29) Appearing as a long, colorful photograph of the coast, viewers will approach the work to reveal the structure as sandbags and learn that the color is the heat signature of the landscape that represents the thermal energy of a stretch of New York City coastline threatened by sea level rise. For more information about the artists be sure to visit the Art at the Blueline page here: https://waterfrontalliance.org/city-of-water-day/art-at-the-blueline/ | The Seaport, Pier 16 & Seaport Square |
| Kayaking for Kids! | Manhattan Kayak Co | From 3-4pm on City of Water Day, bring your kids aged 3+ for a free kayak lesson in the calm water along the Intrepid! All equipment is included, and adults accompany kids 3-14. Please register here for the event: https://tinyurl.com/p6k36c8m | Pier 84 Boathouse |
| Summer Splash for Dogs! | Manhattan Kayak Co | On City of Water Day from 5-6pm, take your dog kayaking or paddle boarding! No experience is needed– you will get outfitted then learn basic strokes, then paddle for 30 minutes with your dog. Dog lifejacket is included! Please register here for the event: https://tinyurl.com/s8ekxjrw | Pier 84 Boathouse |