Celebrate Earth Day With Workshops, Tours and Volunteer Opportunities in Brooklyn's Parks

Earth Day brings an opportunity to enjoy a day of fresh air and learn what you can do to celebrate and protect the environment with a variety of events in parks across Brooklyn.

Earth Day launched in 1970 at the initiative of Gaylord Nelson, then a U.S Senator from Wisconsin. He was inspired by the anti-war movement of students to create a day of consciousnesses raising about the environment. Earth Day, taking place every April 22, has since grown into a global initiative.

Since the actual day falls on a Friday, organizations are spreading the programming throughout the weekend, giving Brooklynites plenty of options for joining in. We’ve gathered a few of the opportunities below. All events are free, but some do require registration. Visit the individual websites for more information.

Wyckoff House Museum
5816 Clarendon Road, East Flatbush
Friday April 23, 12 – 4 p.m.
Get your hands in the soil with an Earth Day of service on the grounds of the historic farmhouse. The first half of the day will be devoted to processing compost and the latter half to garden cleanup.

Fort Greene Park
Fort Greene, locations throughout the park
Saturday April 23, 10 a.m. – 1 p.m.
Arrive dressed to work for a day of litter cleanup, planting and composting.

Brooklyn Bridge Park
Brooklyn Heights, various locations in the park
Saturday April 23, 10 a.m. – 2 p.m.
There will be something for everyone with a yoga class, park cleanup, a nature walk and a special story time.

Jerome Glenmore Cornerstone Garden
316 Jerome Street, East New York
Saturday April 23, 10 a.m. – 3:30 p.m.
Register to join the East New York Garden Advocates for a day of prepping gardens for the coming season. Participants will also enjoy a meal together.

Washington Park in J.J. Byrne Playground
336 3rd Street, Park Slope
Saturday, April 23, 10 a.m. – 5 p.m.
The celebration will include live music, a plant sale and a cleanup of the dog run. The event will also celebrate the first day of the 5th Avenue Open Streets.

Owl’s Head Park
68th Street and Colonial Road, Bay Ridge
Saturday April 23, 1 p.m. – 2 p.m.
Urban Park Rangers will lead an ecology hike through the park.

Prospect Park
Prospect Park Audubon Center
Saturday April 23, 1 – 4 p.m.
The celebratory afternoon includes family friendly activities such as seed planting, a nature walk and tips on using binoculars. Also on view will be select panels from Frederick Law Olmsted: Landscapes for the Public Good, an exhibit on the life and work of the designer.

Canarsie Park
East 88th Street and Seaview Avenue, Canarsie
Sunday April 24, 11 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.
Join Urban Park Rangers for a hike to learn more about the ecology of freshwater ponds.

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