Now in its 16th year, City of Water Day taking place this year on Saturday, July 15 2023
City of Water Day — taking place this year on Saturday, July 15 — is a region-wide day organized by Waterfront Alliance and New York–New Jersey Harbor & Estuary Program (HEP), to champion a climate-resilient New York and New Jersey harbor.
Now in its 16th year, City of Water Day taking place this year on Saturday, July 15 2023Dozens of communities across all five boroughs, Westchester and Rockland counties, and New Jersey will host events on and near the water that celebrate the importance of a resilient and equitably shared waterfront. From free kayaking to rowing to hands-on workshops, these events offer community members opportunities for fun, education, and access to their local waterfront.
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The climate is changing. And so are we.
This year’s theme is to expand the capacity of New York and New Jersey communities to address climate change— in particular communities that are disadvantaged or underserved. City of Water Day will feature stewardship organizations that are raising awareness about the risk we all face from sea level rise and climate change, and explore ways we can build the adaptive capacity of our ecosystems and communities.
By engaging the public in the benefits of habitat restoration, water infrastructure, green infrastructure, stormwater management, and other efforts that prioritize climate resilient solutions, we are collectively creating a more resilient New York and New Jersey harbor. 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.
Explore the 2023 City of Water Day
events below
Scroll below the map to see the full list of events!
*City of Water Day Grant Award Recipient
| Event Name | Organization | Description | Time | Location | Registration/Learn More |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| *Elizabethport Watershed Awareness Day: Pick-Up & Paddle | Groundwork Elizabeth | Join Groundwork Elizabeth at the Elizabeth River Trail across from the Elizabeth Public Library for a pick-up & paddle along vistas of the Arthur Kill; an exciting kayaking activity; and tabling by Leading Light Wind who will share information about the offshore wind workforce and youth education opportunities. Groundwork will showcase how the Elizabeth River and Arthur Kill are vast, untapped, precious resources that help promote a healthy community by providing transportation, recreation, and aquatic open spaces. | 11am to 2pm | Elizabeth River Trail, across from the Elizabeth Public Library, 11 South Broad St | Register here: https://tinyurl.com/3dvvsrta |
| GSWA Connecting Communities and Water – a Day of Exploration in the Passaic Headwaters | Great Swamp Watershed Association | Join GSWA as they partner with the Morris Museum for a day of art, hiking, and wetland exploration from 11am to 2pm! There will be staff-led hikes through through the preserved floodplain forest, along the Silver Brook and over the raised boardwalk through a marsh. There will also be an enviroscape model and topographic model of the Passaic River to engage with, as well as some great ephemeral art activities. Register here: https://tinyurl.com/4rdpy9c8 | 11am to 2pm | 1 Tiger Lily Ln, Morristown, NJ 07960 | https://tinyurl.com/4rdpy9c8 |
| *Free Paddling in Hoboken Cove! | Hoboken Cove Community Boathouse | Hoboken Cove Community Boathouse is providing free kayaking and paddle boarding inside their protected cove! Their event will feature a 1 to 2 mile kayak trip, and a cardboard kayak competition (registration required for competition). | 9am to 11am; 11am to 3pm | Maxwell Place Park, Hoboken, NJ 07030 | www.hobokencoveboathouse.org |
| *Weequahic Park Association’s City of Water Day Celebration! | Weequahic Park Association | Weequahic Park Association invites the community, schools, and businesses, to attend and participate in WPA’s first ever City of Water Day celebration. The event will raise awareness about water quality, the lake, climate change, and how community members can help combat some of these issues! A local African Drumming Group will also perform a water/lake blessing at the park. | Starting at 4pm | 92 Thomas Carmichael Dr, Newark, NJ 07114 | www.weequahicparkassociation.org |
| *City of Water Day at the Hoboken Cove | Fund for a Better Waterfront | City of Water Day at the Hoboken Cove will be a decidedly in person event, with a busy day of beach and water activities on the New Jersey side of the Hudson River’s only natural sand beach south of the George Washington Bridge, the Hoboken Cove. Hoboken Cove Community Boathouse, The Hudson River Fishermen’s Association and Resilience Paddle Sports will provide free kayaking, youth angling lessons, stand up paddle boarding and community science classes to both youth and adults. Fund for a Better Waterfront will provide tours of the Hoboken waterfront, recounting the 32 years of advocacy that resulted in a green, open, accessible and undeniably public waterfront. | 10am to 3:30pm | The Hoboken Cove at Maxwell Place Park, 11th Street and Sinatra Drive North, Hoboken, NJ, 07030 | www.betterwaterfront.org |
| *Discover and Explore the REAL NJ Meadowlands! | Hackensack Riverkeeper | Hackensack Riverkeeper will host a series of 4-5 mini-tours through the Sawmill Creek Marsh and along the Hackensack River aboard one of Hackensack Riverkeeper’s specially-rigged pontoon boats. First-time visitors are highly encouraged to take this opportunity! Tours will feature salt marshes, wading and shorebird species, terrapins, and more. Registration required; click each time slot on the registration/learn more column to sign up for a specific tour time. | 10am to 3pm | 1 High Tech Way, Secaucus, NJ 07094 | 10 am trip; 11am trip; 12pm trip; 1pm trip; 2pm trip |
| *Na ‘Ohana o Ke Kai at Hoboken Cove | Ke Aloha Outrigger at Hoboken Cove | Join Ke Aloha Outrigger at Hoboken Cove for a variety of family oriented activities aimed at bringing awareness to the health of our local waterways through the eyes of Pacific Islander culture! All activities are walk-up first-come-first-serve. The day’s schedule will be 9-10AM: Beach Cleanup; 10AM-3PM: Educational/Environmental Crafts for Kids and Families;11AM-3PM: Outrigger canoe intro sessions. Follow them on Facebook of Instagram for updates @kealohaoutrigger | 11am to 3pm | Frank Sinatra Dr, Hoboken, NJ 07030 | https://kealohaoutrigger.org/city-of-water-day.html |
| *Water Systems 2023: An Environmental Asset within our Federal Marine Highway | Future City Inc | Join Future City, Inc. for their event hosted in person and remotely; featuring an educational video introducing The Arthur Kill Blueway, which is a vital environmental and economic waterway, for the audience to understand local climate change impacts within and around this vital passageway. The presentation will also demonstrate the impact on family life, climate change, and land use throughout the Arthur Kill Blueway. The in person event will focus on our large city CSO system and its relationship to our quality of life and safety. | 12pm to 5pm | 1145 Fanny St, Elizabeth, NJ 07201 | www.futurecityinc.org |
| *Our Wild River Neighbors | Ethical Culture Society of Bergen County | The Ethical Culture Society of Bergen County will host an awareness event in Johnson Park! Interpretive events will be directed at youth ages 9 to 14, as well as their parents and other siblings. These events will demonstrate how the Hackensack River is connected to a much larger ecosystem. Activities will include a river clean-up, art projects, demonstrations of their eel mop collection site (located in the park), and an eel “parade.” No registration required. | 11am to 4pm | Johnson Park, River St, Hackensack, NJ 07601 | https://ethicalfocus.org/water/ |
| *Third Annual Paterson City of Water Day | Passaic River Coalition | Join the Third Annual Patterson City of Water Day! This is a day for Paterson residents to educate, experience, connect, appreciate, and enjoy the Passaic River in an urban environment within an oasis of green open space at Westside Park. The day will feature a cleanup on the riverbanks and within the park, free kayaking, hands – on art, resources & exhibitors with info on how our climate impacts Paterson. Please register at the “learn more” link! | 9am to 1pm | Westside Park, 114 Totowa Ave, Paterson, NJ 07502 | https://forms.gle/sgqmHHe7XuKArPKB6 |
| *Orange City of Water Day with Orange Trail Mix and Friends Of Metcalf Park | HUUB, Inc. | HUUB, Inc. will host a guided tour from Orange Trail Mix to South Mountain Reservation with local Orange Resident and Program creator, Sharee Harrison, and West Orange Environmental Commission Chair and local historian, Mike Brick. Residents of Orange will be provided bus transportation to and from the site, and will be limited to 25 participants. The two hour hike will highlight the importance of land preservation; the variety of indigenous plants and trees that fill the site; and the importance of the Rahway River, both historically and today’s usage. The day will continue with a celebration of the Rahway River that runs along Metcalf Park in Orange, NJ. The afternoon event will host live visual art from local artists, live local music organized by Orange Music City coalition, and dedicated spaces that reimagine the relationship between the Orange community and the Rahway River: how can we make it more accessible through design? How can we make our water / rivers clean and safe? How can we show resilience in our communities when it comes to the systematic neglect of environmental racism? | 1pm to 5pm | Cherry Ln, West Orange, NJ 07052 | www.instagram.com/orangehuub/ |
| *Passaic River Makes a Splash | Passaic Academy for Science & Engineering | ‘Passaic River Makes a Splash’ will be held at Dundee Island Park along the Passaic River in Passaic, NJ from 9 a.m. to 12:00 pm. It will focus on the health of the Dundee Island Park ecosystem—educating community members about the species currently there, the impact of climate change, and joining together to make the ecosystem healthier. The event will include education for the community about the area surrounding New Jersey’s Passaic River, an interactive planting activity to help improve the ecosystem, and other interactive educational opportunities. Join them for a fun, activity-packed day! | 9am to 12pm | Veterans Ct, Passaic, NJ 07055 | www.passaicschools.org/ |
| *City of Water Day Hoboken! | Resilience Adventures | Join Resilience Adventures for a day of fun on the Hoboken Waterfront! Find them along Hoboken Cove, Shipyard Marina, and Maxwell Place Park. From 10AM- 3PM there will be environmental science activities on the beach for all ages; no registration needed. From 11AM-3PM participate in free paddle boarding; registration required! From 3:30PM-5PM join a historical tour of Hoboken’s waterfront via kayak; registration required! | 10am to 5pm | Sinatra Dr, Hoboken, NJ 07030 | Click here for paddle boarding registration; Click here for kayak tour registration |
| Event Name | Organization | Description | Time | Location | Registration/Learn More |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| National Lighthouse Museum’s City of Water Day | The National Lighthouse Museum | Join the National Lighthouse Museum for all day crafts and games for all ages! There will be an opening reception at 2pm of the History of the USCG Lilac, the USA’s only surviving steam-powered lighthouse tender decommissioned in 1972 and since reopened as a museum, with light refreshments served. At 11:30am and 1pm there will be historical site tours led by Bob Eisele. An all day outdoor pop-up focused on preserving our lighthouses will be let by curator Thomas J. Rice! No registration required. | 11am to 4pm | 200 The Promenade at Lighthouse Point, Staten Island, NY 10301 | www.lighthousemuseum.org/event/city-of-water-day/ |
| *We Are A Waterfront: From One Island to Another – Staten Island to Governors Island | Staten Island Urban Center | Staten Island Urban Center will host “We Are A Waterfront: From One Island to Another – Staten Island to Governors Island,” a celebration of our clean waterways and ferries that give us public access. Celebrations at Tompkinsville Park and at Governor’s Island will take place using with live music, performance, storytelling and participatory art and action. Both celebrations/action centers will be presented live in-person and simulcasted live stream on social media. | 12pm to 4pm | 45 Victory Blvd, Staten Island, NY 10301 | www.siurbancenter.org |
| *Kestrels and Kayaks | Freshkills Park Alliance | Join the Freshkills Park Alliance for a day of celebration at Freshkills Park! Their event will feature a 10am volunteer shoreline restoration/clean up, a 3pm wildlife estuary tour, and a 6pm sunset tour. Please see each individual link for more information and to register for a spot! | 10am, 3pm, 6pm | Freshkills Park, Staten Island, NY 10314 | Click here for 10am event; Click here for 3pm event; Click here for 6pm event |
| Wolfe’s Pond Park Beach Cleanup | NYC H2O & NRPA | Join NYC H20 and the NRPA for an in-person volunteer beach cleanup at Wolfe’s Pond Park in Staten Island! Wolfe’s Pond Park boasts a saltwater and a freshwater ecosystem. Gloves, bags, and trash pickers will be provided. Eligible for community service credit for students. Registration not required; for assistance please email megan@nych2o.org | 10am to 12pm | 420 Cornelia Ave, Staten Island, NY 10312 | https://www.eventbrite.com/e/wolfes-pond-park-beach-cleanup-tickets-650875735847 |
| Event Name | Organization | Description | Time | Location | Registration/Learn More |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Our Waters: Full of Life | Lamont Doherty Earth Observatory, Columbia Climate School | Lamont Doherty Earth Observatory is hosting a family-friendly event outside of their Hudson River Field Station from 11am to 3pm! Participants will get a chance to seine in a wadable section of the Hudson off the pier, help identify the species caught, create gyotaku-style fish prints of Hudson River species, and get an understanding of how sea-level rise will impact local communities. No registration required. | 11am to 3pm | 200 Ferry Rd, Piermont, NY 10968 | https://tinyurl.com/247kdzrt |
| *Yonkers–A City of Water | Yonkers Paddling and Rowing Club | Head out to Yonkers Paddling and Rowing Club for a day of free public kayaking! Information will be provided by partners on different forms of riverfront engagement. There will also be a clean-up along the shoreline on their stretch of The Hudson River, as well as in Harbishaw Park. Registration not required. | 10am to 1pm | 19 Alexander St, Yonkers, NY 10701 | https://www.facebook.com/YPRConFB |
| Boogie Down to the Sound | SUNY Maritime College | Join SUNY Maritime College for a fun, interactive event that will connect residents to the 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), Waterfront Community Programs (i.e. kayaking, sailing and boating with qualified skippers), and a fishing clinic provided by I Fish NY. Please register here https://tinyurl.com/vraev578 | 11am to 4pm | 6 Pennyfield Ave, Bronx, NY 10465 | https://tinyurl.com/vraev578 |
| Castle Hill YMCA and Waterfront Alliance Coastal Cleanup | Waterfront Alliance | Waterfront Alliance and the Bronx’s Castle Hill YMCA are partnering to host a coastal clean-up and day of free family-friendly activities. Community members of Castle Hill and nearby neighborhoods are invited to help clean up the shorelines near the YMCA, followed by a waterfront walk and ecology tour led by Waterfront Alliance educators. We’ll also enjoy kayaking in Westchester Creek, with kayaks provided by Youth Ministries and lifeguards provided by the Castle Hill YMCA. | 9:30am to 2pm | 2 Castle Hill Ave, Bronx, NY 10473 | https://CastleHillCleanup.eventbrite.com |
| *High Bridge and Roberto Clemente State Park on the Harlem River | Bronx Council for Environmental Quality | Join the BCEQ and Harlem River Working Group for a multi-site in-person event along the Harlem River. Join them at 9:30am on the High Bridge. At 10am, everyone will walk over to Mill Pond Park while discussing greenway options, river access, and waterfront history. Simultaneously, Friends of Spuyten Duyvil will engage volunteers in hands-on habitat and trail rehabilitation along the pond edge in Spuyten Duyvil Shorefront Park (see their event listing for more info). BCEQ will then provide participants with round-trip Metro-North tickets to Roberto Clemente State Park for a lunch and climate talk at 1:30pm. Email rsvp@bceq.org to sign up to join them! | 10am to 3pm | The High Bridge, Bronx, NY | www.facebook.com/bronxcouncilforenvironmentalquality |
| The Groundswell Group: Learn about our water supply! | The Groundswell Group | Interested in learning about the NYC water supply? The Groundswell Group will talk about where the water comes from and ways to protect the water supply! There will be information, demonstrations, and conversations about the New York City water supply. There will also be participants going out into the community for a cleanup of waste that is in the gutters; light refreshments provided! | 2pm to 5pm | 2096 Morris Ave, Bronx, NY 10453 | https://www.groundswellgroup.org |
| *Community Rowing, Sailing, and Birding | Rocking the Boat | To celebrate not only City of Water Day but Rocking the Boat’s 25th year of youth development programming, the organization is planning three special, interactive activities to engage the public, all highlighting projects Rocking the Boat participants are involved in that build resiliency and address climate change. Rowers will collect trash in the Bronx River from Rocking the Boat’s fleet of student-built rowboats; visitors can visit a new seaweed farm and learn about the research project’s impacts and uses; and a storytelling event about oceans and the ecology of the Bronx River! If you are a larger group (10 or more) please email publicprograms@rockingtheboat.org to let them know you’ll be attending! | 1pm to 6pm | 1409 Lafayette Avenue, Bronx, NY 10474 | www.instagram.com\rtbbronx |
| *The Bronx River Living Festival | Bronx River Alliance | Join Bronx River Alliance for a holistic day celebrating their waterfront park and participating in dialogue with local Bronx community members about resiliency in the face of climate change! The following activities will be included: canoeing paddle and pick up; native plant ID walk; hydration station; eastern woodlands exhibit; community art project; informational tabling for the BxR Watershed Plan; and fisheries resiliency education tabling from Riverkeeper! Registration required only for the paddle and pick up event: https://tinyurl.com/2nwhywbp | 12pm to 4pm | Starlight Park, 1490 Sheridan Blvd, Bronx, NY 10459 | https://tinyurl.com/2nwhywbp |
| “Tour My Park” at Roberto Clemente State Park | New York Chapter of American Society of Landscape Architects (ASLA-NY) | Join the DEI Committee of ASLA-NY for an educational tour at Roberto Clemente! Attendees will learn about resilient waterfront design, the importance of salt marsh, tidal pools and channels in the face of coastal flooding, as well as the historical background of the park and how to get involved in supporting it. The tour will be led by Mathews Nielson Landscape Architects (MNLA) who designed the newly renovated area including the Inter-Tidal Pool, the Lower Plaza, and the shoreline in the north of the park, along with park director Frances Rodriguez who overlooks projects and programs at the park to share stories and efforts made behind the scene. | 10am to 11am | Roberto Clemente State Park, 301 W Tremont Ave, Bronx, NY 10453 | https://www.aslany.org/event/aslany-tour-my-park-roberto-clemente-park/ |
| Roberto Clemente State Park Celebrates City of Water Day | Roberto Clemente State Park | Join Roberto Clemente State Park for a day of music, arts & crafts, tours along the Harlem River, water quality sampling, and environmental educational activities! No registration required. | 11am to 3pm | Roberto Clemente State Park, Bronx, NY 10453 | https://parks.ny.gov/parks/robertoclemente/details.aspx |
| BxCM Celebrates City of Water Day | Bronx Children’s Museum | Join the Bronx Children’s Museum as “Water Explorers” in the Wonder Room at BxCM where children will get to act as scientists and engineers as they learn about properties of water by engaging in experiments to test out what materials will sink or float in bodies of water, as well as learn all about watersheds. | Morning Session 10am to 1:00pm and Afternoon Session 2 to 5pm | Bronx Children’s Museum, 725 Exterior St. Bronx, NY | www.bronxchildrensmuseum.org/calendar |
| Spuyten Duyvil Shorefront Park | Walks, Talks & Habitat Rehabilitation | Friends of Spuyten Duyvil | Join Friends of Spuyten Duyvil for a day full of fun! From 10–11:30 am: pitch in to restore habitat along the pond edge, remove invasives that crow out native plants, and open up views of the Harlem River. No experience needed. Tools, gloves, & training provided. From 11:45 am–12:30 pm; enjoy a Walk & Talk along the trail with NYC Parks Natural Area Volunteer Jodie Colón. You’ll discuss the restoration work’s progress & plans for addressing stormwater impacts. From 12:30–1:30 pm; shorefront Park participants are invited to board Metro-North for a 6-minute train ride to Roberto Clemente State Park for a Harlem River Celebration with other groups. Train tickets & lunch courtesy of BCEQ. | 10am to 1:30pm | Spuyten Duyvil Shorefront Park, Edsall Ave at the Metro-North Spuyten Duyvil Station. Meet below the pedestrian overpass. | RSVP required to www.bit.ly/FoSDevents or spuytenduyvilny@gmail.com |
| Event Name | Organization | Description | Time | Location | Registration/Learn More |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| *Jamaica Bay Festival | Jamaica Bay-Rockaway Parks Conservancy | The Jamaica Bay Festival is a free, fun, family event taking place in Brooklyn and Queens. The Festival celebrates those who share our 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. Festival activities will occur at a variety of times; make sure to visit the link for the full schedule! | 8am to 7pm | 11404 Beach Channel Drive, Rockaway Park, NY 11694 | http://www.jbrpc.org/jamaica-bay-festival |
| Rain Garden Work Day at B.A.S.E. (Borden Avenue Street-End) | Dutch Kills Loop Steering Committee | Join Dutch Kills Loop Steering Committee for a a rain-garden workday, starting at 5pm, followed by a Creekside potluck dinner at 7:30pm! No registration required | Starting at 5pm | 29-21 Borden Ave, Queens, NY 11101 | https://dutchkillsloop.org/ |
| Hallets Cove Public Walkup Paddling | LIC Community Boathouse | Join LIC Community Boathouse for free kayaking or canoeing within a marked protected area monitored by volunteer safety boats! No reservation, no boating or swimming experience needed. All ages are welcome, infants included, though minors (under 18) must be accompanied by a parent or guardian at the location (who don’t have to paddle themselves). | 12pm to 5pm | 31-10 Vernon Blvd, Queens, NY 11106 | https://www.licboathouse.org/calendar |
| Free Fishing Clinic! | NYS Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation | Join NYS Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation for a free Fishing Clinic! Learn how to fish and meet some critters that live in the East River! There will be samples from oyster cages, used to discuss the importance of oyster reefs when considering climate resiliency in the NYC waterways. All ages welcome. There will be three sessions held: 10am, 11am and 12pm. Please register at the link in the “learn more” section! | 10am to 1pm | Gantry Plaza State Park Recreational Dock, Long Island City, NY 11101 | www.eventbrite.com/e/fishing-at-the-gantries-tickets-644390137247 |
| City of Water Day! | Surfrider Foundation New York City | Join Surfrider for a scavenger hunt in the Rockaways to celebrate City of Water Day! The scavenger hunt will consist of different challenges to discover the Rockaways and all the programs and campaigns the chapter is working on. Please sign up at the ‘learn more’ link! | 11am to 2pm | Rockaway Beach, B67th street, NY 11682 | https://volunteer.surfrider.org/opportunities/RyEyByRXYI |
| *City of Water Day at the Queens Landing | Hunters Point Parks Conservancy | Join Hunters Point Parks Conversancy and their partners for a City of Water Day celebration! This event will highlight the history, ecology, and ongoing cultural and recreational significance of Newtown Creek and the East River through performances, environmental education, and boating. Native American elders will give talks and performances in the park; Newtown Creek Alliance will provide hands-on environmental education on marine ecology and water quality; NBCB will take groups out on the water in their large canoes! No registration required | 12pm to 4pm | 57-28 2nd St, Queens, NY 11101 | www.instagram.com/licwaterfront/ |
| Jamaica Bay Park Trail Work | Natural Areas Conservancy | Join NYC Parks Stewardship and Natural Areas Conservancy at Jamaica Bay Park! Volunteers will contribute to ongoing restoration work to help restore the forest, create a healthier ecosystem, and improve trail access. After the event there will be an optional guided hike on the trail where to learn about the history of the nearby restoration sites. Please dress in sturdy boots or shoes, long pants, and clothing that can get dirty. Space is limited and registration is required. Volunteers under 18 must be accompanied by a chaperone. To sign up a group of 10 or more volunteers please reach out to stewardship@parks.nyc.gov. | 10am to 1pm | Jamaica Bay Park: Faber Terrace and Bay 28th St, Queens, NY 11691 | www.nycgovparks.org/reg/stewardship/13992 |
| Event Name | Organization | Description | Time | Location | Registration/Learn More |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| City of Water Day: Creekside Edition! | North Brooklyn Parks Alliance | Volunteer with North Brooklyn Parks Alliance! Learn how North Brooklyn’s El-Space supports native and invasive species in an intimate gem of a public park — experience the unique park setting Under the K bridge and a rare access point to the Newtown Creek. Please register in advance! | 11am to 1pm | The Arm at Van Dam St, Meeker Ave, 11222 | https://tinyurl.com/c49ra948 |
| Explore the Shore for City of Water Day! | Shirley Chisholm State Park | Celebrate City of Water Day with Shirley Chisholm State Park from 10am-2pm! From the sandy shore, to the deeper waters there’s so much to discover about the waters of Jamaica Bay! In the morning join their Environmental Education Team for a free beginner paddle. Get your feet wet and learn the very beginner basics of kayaking, and see Jamaica Bay like never before. In the afternoon go seine with them and get up-close and personal with some of the fish and marine critters that call Jamaica Bay home. Register at the “learn more” link! | 10am to 2pm | Shirley Chisholm State Park, Brooklyn, NY 11239 | https://tinyurl.com/yckj5ax4 |
| Kayaking, Canoeing & Rowing on Jamaica Bay! | Sebago Canoe Club | Sebago Canoe Club will host an open house event from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. for neighborhood residents and the general public. Visitors will be able to join short paddling or rowing excursions on the protected waters of Paerdegat Basin in Canarsie, Brooklyn. The basin is our home waterway and an ideal jumping off point for exploring the rest of Jamaica Bay, a unique urban wildlife refuge. Staff from the Billion Oyster Project will be also on hand sharing information about the restoration of oysters to Jamaica Bay including a look at thriving oyster reefs. RSVP is strongly recommended. Limited Walk-ins. Doors open at 10 a.m., last trip sign up is at 1 p.m. Arrive early! | 10am to 2pm | Sebago Canoe Club, 1400 Paerdegat Ave N, Brooklyn NY 11236 | https://tinyurl.com/mry6ksj9 |
| Water Quality Monitoring Workshops and Demonstrations | Interstate Environmental Commission | This event will hold ongoing demonstrations and workshops on field and laboratory methods used to monitor water quality in the region! Stakeholders will get hands-on experience using multi-parameter sondes to monitor field parameters such as dissolved oxygen, pH, temperature, turbidity and salinity in real-time throughout the day from the NY/NJ Harbor adjacent to the Brooklyn Army Terminal pier. Staff will be on hand throughout the day to answer questions on water quality monitoring methodologies, and posters outlining recent IEC projects, including participatory science projects and opportunities, will be on display. Visitors may also have the opportunity to tour IEC’s laboratory at BioBAT and the BioBAT art space, which is located in the lobby of BioBAT and holds exhibitions on bio-art projects. Stay tuned on Facebook: @iec.nynjct and Twitter: @iec_nynjct | 11am to 3pm | 140 58th Street, Brooklyn, NY 11220 | Please see here for detailed directions: https://www.iec-nynjct.org/detailed-address |
| Where the Sidewalk Ends: A Gowanus Adventure | Gowanus Dredgers Canoe Club | The Gowanus Dredgers will run free, public paddling with extended hours from their new 19th St. location, inviting neighbors and residents throughout the city to come out and try their hand at canoeing and explore the Gowanus Canal. A musical performance, a hands-on science activity, and other events will take place at street ends along the canal all day. | 11am to 6pm | Gowanus Dredgers Bunker, 2 19th St, Brooklyn, NY 11232 | www.gowanuscanal.org/city-water-day-2023 |
| Canal-side Concert in Gowanus | Gowanus Dredgers Canoe Club | The Gowanus Dredgers are hosting “Where the Sidewalk Ends,” a series of musical performances where Bond St. meets the Gowanus Canal, just across 4th St. We’ll hear performances from shorelines past and present with sea shanties by Stuart Markus (of The Royal Yard with Robin Greenstein), original electronic and clarinet works by Ford Fourqurean (of the Unheard-of Ensemble), as well as electronics by Zachary Ritter and mountain dulcimer and electronics from Brian Ellis. Listen from the canal by hopping in a canoe at the Dredger’s 19th St. open public paddling or stroll to the street end to listen on shore. Bring your own seats for the sidewalks! | 1pm to 3pm | 430-436 Bond St, Brooklyn, NY 11231 (where Bond St. meets the Gowanus Canal, just across 4th St) | |
| Stewarding the Brooklyn Waterfront Greenway | Brooklyn Greenway Initiative | Join Brooklyn Greenway Initiative, fellow community members, Greenway users, and a broad cross-section of Brooklynites who want to make a difference in our city! NYC Councilmember Hanif will attend and give remarks! Tasks will include picking up litter and maintaining tree pits and perimeter areas of the Greenway, and targeted removal of invasive species. BGI will provide necessary tools. They encourage participants to bring their own gloves, otherwise gloves will also be available on site. Participants must wear closed-toe shoes and sign a participant waiver; wear sunscreen and sun hat, comfortable clothing in layers, and bringing a water bottle and snacks is recommended. Registration required here: https://tinyurl.com/35upr6mb | 11am to 12:00pm | Van Voorhees Playground, Brooklyn, NY 11201 | https://tinyurl.com/35upr6mb |
| Canarsie Greener and Cleaner | Fresh Creek Nature Association | Come volunteer with Fresh Creek Nature Association to learn about coastal protection and steward the Fresh Creek Nature Preserve. Meet some of the volunteer champions of this preserve who help protect this special place. Meet at East 108th St and Avenue M! Reach them at: freshcreekassociation@gmail.com | 10am to 2pm | East 108th Street & Avenue M, Brooklyn, NY 11236 | |
| Public Seining at Brooklyn Bridge Park | Brooklyn Bridge Park Conservancy | Discover the amazing biodiversity of the East River as BBPC staff and marine biologists use a seine net to gently catch incredible estuary organisms. Participants are invited to Pier 4 Beach in Brooklyn Bridge Park from 4-6 pm to watch and learn as staff pull the net onto shore and identify, count, and measure every organism, as well as conduct water quality tests. In addition to close-up looks at organisms caught, visitors are invited to ask experts questions, explore the living shoreline, and help collect important community science data! Only staff and trained volunteers are allowed in the water. Shoes must be worn at all times. | 4pm to 6pm | 11 Montague St, Brooklyn NY 11201 | https://tinyurl.com/3whm84h5 |
| *Build and Launch a Floating Garden | RETI Center | RETI Center and GBX~ Gowanus Bay Terminal are hosting an unforgettable event for City of Water Day from 11-4pm. Join them 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. Please register at: https://tinyurl.com/3tn9eu36 | 11am to 4pm | 701 Columbia St, Brooklyn, NY 11231 | https://tinyurl.com/3tn9eu36 |
| *Coney Island Addresses Climate Change! | Coney Island Beautification Project | Join Coney Island Beautification Project this year as they engage the community in climate topics provided by groups and individuals with posters, games, flyers, documents pertaining to climate change and its effects upon neighborhood. Events throughout the day will include: 10am Beach Clean-up, 10am Kayaking, and 10am Arts and Games. There will be art contests through painting by various age groups with prizes awarded! Find them on instagram at: Coney_Island_BP | 10am to 2pm | 2529 Neptune Ave, Brooklyn NY 11224 | |
| *Connecting the Dots: Our Connection to Waterways | Gowanus Canal Conservancy | Gowanus Canal Conservancy’s event will feature activities for all ages, and includes water quality testing, re-design a street, explore wildlife, and become a Gowanus Canal steward. This event will be facilitated and led by the GCC Green Team Apprentices and GCC Staff. Registration is encouraged! | 10am to 2pm | GCC Lowlands Nursery, 25 9th Street, Brooklyn NY 11215 | https://www.eventbrite.com/e/city-of-water-day-with-gowanus-canal-conservancy-tickets-664131805107 |
| *Free Walk-up Kayaking in the Lower New York Harbor | Red Hook Boaters | Come out for free walk-up kayaking in the Lower New York Harbor from 1pm to 4pm, no experience required! You will arrive, put your name on a list, and then take a kayak out for a short paddle to explore the cove at your own pace (you will get a little wet). Staff provide the necessary on-water and on-land instruction and safety support. Paddlers are free to explore the protected cove at their own pace and enjoy harbor views and wildlife of the estuary, but rides are limited to 15-20 minutes at a time to give everyone a chance. Before or after trip, it’s requested that you join in a beach cleanup, removing trash that has washed ashore. There will be Single (1 person) kayaks, and Tandem (2 person) kayaks; small children are welcome if they ride with their parents or guardians. | 1pm to 4pm | 201 Coffey Street Brooklyn, NY 11231 | www.redhookboaters.org |
| City of Water Day with Billion Oyster Project! | Billion Oyster Project | Stop by Billion Oyster Project’s Williamsburg Field Station location, where they will host table programming and educate the public on Enterococcus testing in our local waterways! They will also have other interactive activities and programming for participants to enjoy (ie. Oyster Reef building, lawn darts, coloring pages, book reading, and more). | 10am to 4pm | South end of Domino Park, 15 River St, Brooklyn, NY 11249 | www.eventbrite.com/e/city-of-water-day-williamsburg-oysters-and-water-quality-tickets-675523086737 |
| Event Name | Organization | Description | Time | Location | Registration/Learn More |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Saturday Family Workshop Celebrating City of Water Day | Battery Park City Authority | Stop by the Battery Park City Esplanade and learn about different ways of communicating ideas. A sustainable future means strong communities! Strong communities work together, share ideas, and create solutions as a team! Here on edge of the Hudson River, Battery Park City Authority are exploring different ways of communicating. Join them as they identify different types of river traffic, native wildlife, and learn different ways of sharing ideas. Make your own nautical signal flag to take home! | 11am to 12:30pm | Rector Gate, Rector Place & BPC Esplanade, New York, NY 10280 | https://tinyurl.com/bdfnzemk |
| Waterfront Alliance Resilience Street Fair | Waterfront Alliance | Join Waterfront Alliance and partner organizations on Saturday, July 15 for a “Resilience Street Fair” at the South Street Seaport Museum, Pier 16, in Lower Manhattan’s Seaport. From 12pm-5pm, representatives from participating organizations will be on hand with activities and resources for the public (kids are welcome!) on a variety of issues related to climate resilience and our shared waterfront. From public access and swimming to the effects of the climate crisis on the housing market to becoming an informed voter on environmental issues, this is a unique opportunity to learn about the waterfront and the many ways you can advocate for your neighborhood, city, and region. In addition, there will be scheduled program activities. | 12pm to 5pm | Pier 16, New York, NY 10038 | https://resiliencestreetfair.eventbrite.com/ |
| City of Water Day at Sherman Creek | New York Restoration Project | Join NYRP for a tour of the Sherman Creek shoreline to discuss wetlands, climate change, and approaches to shoreline adaptation! The tour will be followed by a shoreline clean-up and activity removing invasive vegetation from the wetlands. Concurrently, NYRP partners will hold additional events focused on the ecology of the shoreline and an ongoing planning effort to restore habitat and improve the resilience of the shoreline. These events will include an all-ages “Sidewalk Science” developed by Pace University students and faculty. Finally, a local bird expert, in collaboration with NYC Audubon will lead bird identification tours. | 1:30pm to 3:30pm | 351 W 205th St, New York, NY 10034 | https://tinyurl.com/mryvz5c8 |
| City of Water Day: Coastal Clean-Up in East River Park | Lower East Side Ecology Center | The Lower East Side Ecology Center is hosting an in-person litter clean-up in a coastal embankment in East River Park. Join them to remove small and large debris in this area that traps garbage! This event can accommodate up to 20 adult volunteers. The Ecology Center will provide trash bags, gloves, and trash grabbers. Volunteers will need to maneuver rocky terrain so should consider their physical capabilities when signing up. Due to the nature of the terrain, this event is not intended for children under the age of 16. Registration is required here: https://tinyurl.com/3rxf6rt8 | 11am to 1pm | 1234 E 6th St, New York, NY 10009 | https://tinyurl.com/3rxf6rt8 |
| Columbia University Launches a Research Partnership with Morningside Park Pond | Columbia University & Friends of Morningside Park | The Columbia University Climate School and School of Engineering will kick off a research partnership seeking to contain toxic algae blooms in the Morningside Park pond and other bodies of water across NYC. Researchers will be on hand to discuss and demonstrate their work, inviting the participation of volunteers and the public. Partners include NYC Parks Dept. and Friends of Morningside Park! | 11:30am | Morningside Park Pond, 114th Street and Morningside Avenue, New York, NY 10027 | www.instagram.com/ColumbiaNeighbors |
| iDig2Learn: City of Water Day! | iDig2Learn | Celebrate City of Water Day on Roosevelt Island! Join iDig2Learn & FDR Four Freedoms State Park to celebrate the Nature of Water at the park on Roosevelt Island’s Southernmost tip! Enjoy the Park’s water views from 11am to 4pm with activities for all ages. Meet new friends from NYC H2O to play the Aqueduct Challenge and experience the marvelous path of water from mountains to the City – they can also tell you about local reservoirs. NYPL will be on hand and there will be water games, marine life learning plus a 2pm dance performance – Water is Life – by dancer Chris Bisram. For any questions contact idig2learn@gmail.com and be sure to stay updated at IG:@idig2learn | 11am to 4pm | 1 FDR Four Freedoms Park, New York, NY 10044 | www.instagram.com/idig2learn/ |
| Oysters in the Big Apple: A Celebration and Education | Billion Oyster Project | Billion Oyster Project will be hosting an interactive mural of a quilt highlighting the historic Sandy Ground oystering community here in NYC harbor. Sandy Ground, Staten Island also known as Harrisville and Little Africa, is the oldest continuously inhabited free Black settlement in the United States. The community founded by Mose and Silas Harris was known for its strawberry farming, oyster gardening, iron forging, and countless other contributions. During City of Water Day the participating public will be able to help paint the mural and create our own painted “quilt”. In partnership with the Sandy Ground Historical Society, BOP will also feature quilts from the community for two weeks starting July 15th! BOP will also have other interactive activities and programming for participants to enjoy inside and outside the house. (ie. Oyster Reef building Lawn Darts, coloring pages, book reading, and more). There will also have an oyster tank on display. | 10am to 4pm | (Governor’s Island) Building 16 in Nolan Park, Governors Island | www.eventbrite.com/e/city-of-water-day-oysters-in-the-big-apple-a-celebration-and-education-tickets-675536908077 |
| Move with Cumbe for City of Water Day! | Cumbe Dance | To celebrate City of Water Day, Cumbe is to bringing water dances and movement practices from across the world to the citizens of New York and tourists from all corners of the globe. Their experienced instructors will guide you through each class, providing you with the knowledge and skills you need to succeed. This event will focus on dance and QiGong related to water in an expanded day of programming from 1pm-5pm! | 1pm to 5pm | (Governor’s Island) Colonels Row Building 405, Hay Rd, New York, NY 11231 | www.eventbrite.com/e/city-of-water-day-tickets-667082821677 |
| *We Are A Waterfront: From One Island to Another – Staten Island to Governors Island | Staten Island Urban Center | Staten Island Urban Center will host “We Are A Waterfront: From One Island to Another – Staten Island to Governors Island,” a celebration of our clean waterways and ferries that give us public access. Celebrations at Tompkinsville Park and at Governor’s Island will take place using with live music, performance, storytelling and participatory art and action. Both celebrations/action centers will be presented live in-person and simulcasted live stream on social media. | 12pm to 4pm | (Governor’s Island) Nolan Park, House 5B, New York, NY 10004 | www.siurbancenter.org |
| Free Outrigger Canoe Paddling and Stand Up Paddle Boarding at Pier 96 | New York Outrigger | New York Outrigger is offering a morning of freeoutrigger canoeing and stand up paddle boarding! These free activities are appropriate for age 14 and up and available on a first-come first-served basis. The outrigger paddle boarding sessions will involve a 20 minute land training introduction on the dock to familiarize you with the technique, commands and safety protocol of the canoe. This is then followed by a 20 minute session on the water. The standup paddle boarding sessions will involve a 10 minute land training introduction on the dock to familiarize you with the technique, commands and safety protocols of stand up paddle boarding. This is then followed by a 20 minute session on the water. Please register at www.meetup.com/nyonovice/events/294226366/ | 10:30am to 12pm | Pier 96, New York, NY 10019 | https://www.meetup.com/nyonovice/ |
| *NYCHA Family Day – Water and Life | BioBus Inc | Join the BioBus mobile lab as the science team provides hands-on science engagement opportunities! BioBus is hosting a program all about life in water and celebrating City of Water Day at Alfred Smith Houses in their mobile science laboratory. The event will highlight microscopes and organisms on the waterfront and center opportunities for the Lower East Side community to come meet the East River. | 12pm to 5pm | Alfred E Smith Houses, 21 St James Pl, New York, NY 10038 | www.biobus.org |
| *Community Sailing | Hudson River Community Sailing | Interested in sailing for the first time? Hudson River Community Sailing is offering a day of free sails for New Yorkers at their Inwood and Chelsea locations! Their main objective is to provide safe and positive one-hour sails to members of the NYC community, especially those who do not traditionally get out on the water. Walk-up sign ups will be offered; registration links in “learn more”! | Chelsea Location: 10:30 to 12, 12:30 to 2, 2:30 to 4; Inwood Location: 10:30 to 11:30, 12 to 1, 1:30 to 2:30 | Inwood Location: Dyckman Marina, New York, NY 10034; Chelsea Location: Pier 66 (26th St and Hudson River) New York, NY 10014 | Inwood Location: https://tinyurl.com/ykj3psby; Chelsea Location: https://tinyurl.com/3h3fwkk9 |
| *Biking the Waterfront: Resilience, Access, and Opportunities in East Harlem, Randall’s Island, and the South Bronx | Randall’s Island Park Alliance | Explore Harlem, Randall’s Island, and the Bronx River Waterfront on a biking tour led by bike advocates, waterfront experts, and community leaders who will share their knowledge along the way! This two-hour tour (beginning at 11am) will highlight the challenges, changes, and opportunities for creating more equitable public access and resiliency opportunities along our waterfronts. The event will end in a community garden where lunch will be provided by a local business. Visit here to reserve a spot: https://forms.gle/coXBUww5N2x1kHUd8 | 11am to 2pm | Thomas Jefferson Park, 114th and 1st, New York, NY 10035 | https://tinyurl.com/4nhn4env |
| Engaging the Public Waterfront: Clay Workshop | Institute for Public Architecture | On Saturday, July 15, for City of Water Day, visit the historic Block House on Governors Island. The Institute for Public Architecture (IPA) will be hosting a clay hand-building workshop from 11am–2pm. Participants will create unique clay artifacts that respond to themes of resilient infrastructure. Visitors will also have an opportunity to meet the IPA’s 2023 Summer Fellow and learn how their projects are shaping the future of resilient infrastructure in the city. The workshop is free and open to the public while supplies last. Walk-ins are welcome. Governors Island is only accessible by ferry from Manhattan and Brooklyn – tickets are required. Visit govisland.com/plan-your-visit/ferry for more information. | 11am to 2pm | (Governor’s Island) The Block House, 9 Barry Rd, New York, NY | www.instituteforpublicarchitecture.org |
| Free Lessons for Kayaking and Stand-Up Paddleboarding | Manhattan Kayak Co | Join Manhattan Kayak Co for a fun in-person class! Ages 3+; dogs welcome; no swimming experience needed. Spend 10 minutes with an instructor learning basic skills for kayaking or stand-up paddleboarding (SUP)! Beginners and those relatively new to water are especially encouraged to join us for this informative and exciting session. Starts on the hour, every hour at 12pm, 1pm, and 2pm (no registration required). | 12pm, 1pm, and 2pm | Pier 84 Boathouse, New York, NY 10036 | www.instagram.com/manhattankayak |
| Performance by Gwyneth Shanks & AB Brown | Colby College | The performance “a haunted botany” by artists Gwyneth Shanks and Sister James/AB Brown is free and open to the public. The performance is appropriate for all ages, is accessible, and is designed to bring diverse audiences together to think about the role colonialism, largely facilitated through shipping and waterways, impacts our present. The performance begins with a procession that starts at the corner of West 4th Street and 6th Ave and goes down LeRoy Street to Hudson River Park. In this richly researched archival performance project, Shanks and Sister James look at bloodwood, or logwood, once the most highly priced colonial export in the world, which arrived in large quantities to the New York City ports in the 1700 and 1800s. The two artists create an alternative imprint of the tree’s intertwined histories; using a to-scale replica of a colonial tall ship topsail coated with cyanotype, “a haunted botany” reveals logwood’s role in and resistance to colonialism. | Begins at 12:30pm | Procession begins at the corner of West 4th Street and 6th Ave, New York, NY 10011 | RSVP for free tickets required; please email ahauntedbotany@gmail.com |
| Big City Fishing | Hudson River Park Trust | Join HRPT and drop in a line during this free catch & release fishing program. Anglers ages 5 and up are invited to participate at this program, with parental supervision required. The River Project team provides all the necessary equipment and an on-site fishing tutorial. Registration not required, participation is offered on a first-come, first-served basis. Beginners and experts alike are encouraged to join Big City Fishing for a relaxing and educational experience at the water’s edge. | 11am to 2pm | Pier 51 at Hudson River Park, New York, NY 10014 | https://hudsonriverpark.org/visit/events/event/big-city-fishing-saturday-2023/ |
| Sensory Science | Hudson River Park Trust | Is your little one curious about the world around them? Explore the wonders of the Hudson River in HRPT’s early childhood summer series: Sensory Science! Join them for hands-on activities that engage the senses and explore environmental science in the Pier 57 Discovery Tank. Register at the learn more link! | 11am | Pier 57, New York, NY 10011 | https://www.eventbrite.com/e/sensory-science-tickets-648408556447 |
| Guided Gallery | Hudson River Park Trust | The Discovery Tank is an interactive technology-powered gallery and classroom at Hudson River Park’s Pier 57 that is free for the public to enjoy. Budding scientists of all ages can dive into this unique learning space and explore the Hudson River environment virtually during scheduled Guided Gallery hours. | 11am to 5pm | Pier 57, New York, NY 10011 | https://hudsonriverpark.org/visit/events/event/guided-gallery-july-8-2023/ |
| Wetlab Look-ins | Hudson River Park Trust | Meet NYC wildlife at the Wetlab, Hudson River Park’s research aquarium that is free and open to the public! Visitors of all ages can take a trip to the Pier 40 Wetlab aquarium and join a guided tour. During Wetlab Look-ins, you can join a drop-in tour led by the Park’s River Project team to learn more about fascinating local wildlife including oyster toadfish, lined seahorses and blue crabs. | 3pm to 5pm | Pier 40, New York, NY 10014 | https://hudsonriverpark.org/visit/events/event/wetlab-look-ins-2023-16/ |
