“From coastal resiliency and sustainable green practices to the preservation of affordable housing, world-class public art, and vibrant, year-round programming in award-winning public spaces, Battery Park City leads the way in many of the measures that makes cities livable."

Raju Mann

President & CEO
  • 04/17
  • Art & Culture
  • BPC People
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  • Environment
  • Governance

BATTERY PARK CITY AUTHORITY CELEBRATES EARTH DAY 2020 WITH WEEKLONG LINEUP OF VIRTUAL EVENTS & INITIATIVES

Programs Underscore Earth Day 2020’s “Climate Action” Theme

Marking the 50th year of Earth Day, the Battery Park City Authority today announced a weeklong celebration of the environmental movement’s history with a series of virtual initiatives in keeping with Earth Day 2020’s theme of climate action. A remote poetry talk, virtual film screening and panel discussion, and launch of the Battery Park City Sustainability Plan highlight the week’s events.

“Even when staying home it’s important to recognize Earth Day and its half-century dedication to a more sustainable planet,” said BPCA President and Chief Executive Officer B.J. Jones. “I invite everyone to celebrate Earth Day safely this year as we continue to cultivate the next generation of environmental stewardship.”

BPCA’s celebration of Earth Day 2020 includes:

Monday, April 20

BPC Sustainability Facts – Each day starting April 20, look for a new fact about Battery Park City’s sustainability efforts promoted through BPCA’s Earth Day 2020-branded social media accounts – Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram with hashtag #BPCGreen.

Tuesday, April 21 @ 1PM

Tuesday Talks: Nature in Poetry with Bob Holman – Poets House hosts legendary slam poet, former Nuyorican Poets Café co-director, and Bowery Poetry Club founder Bob Holman for a virtual reading and talk honoring the 50th anniversary of Earth Day. His recent award-winning work in language revitalization will be showcased with a screening of Khonsay: Poem of Many Tongues, which contains lines from 50 different endangered languages. Readings and discussions of original poems – as well as works of other poets inspired by nature – will highlight our connection with endangered species as we reflect on Earth Day. Event to be streamed via the Poets House Twitter account and available for repeat viewings on Facebook, YouTube, and Poets House Program Archive.

“Poetry has real work to do – to help us discover our inner voice and strength, and to listen more deeply to others,” said Lee Briccetti, Executive Director of Poets House. “Bob Holman is one of the world’s most energetic poetic voices – able to illuminate nature, climate change, endangered languages and the heart and soul of our humanness.”

Wednesday, April 22 – Earth Day         

BPC Sustainability Plan Launch – Goal 2.2 of BPC’s Strategic Plan is to “Develop and implement a strategy to achieve a carbon neutral Battery Park City.” On Earth Day, BPCA unveils its new Sustainability Plan, which will guide the neighborhood’s sustainability efforts and initiatives for the next decade.

Earth Day Newsletter – A special Earth Day edition of the “BPCA Connect” newsletter will include tips on sustainability and plant care, “Zero Waste” craft ideas (crafts using items normally recycled or sent to landfill), native ladybug facts – including a coloring book provided by the Lost Ladybug Project – and more! Subscribe to BPCA’s newsletter here.

Thursday, April 23

Crazy About Compost – Learn all about BPCA’s composting program, which runs year-round and on-site at the Authority’s 75 Battery Place facility, with fun facts and a new how-to video. Compost – including the wood chips produced from Battery Park City residents’ holiday trees; raw, fresh, or frozen vegetables/fruit; coffee grounds from staff, residents, and local businesses; and pruning materials from throughout BPC Parks – nourishes and sustains soils across the neighborhood’s diversified landscape. In 2019, BPCA composted nearly 50,000 pounds of food and waste, and is on-pace for even more this year.

Friday, April 24       

Arbor Day Street Tree Tips for Success – In honor of Arbor Day, BPCA will release “Street Tree Tips for Success” to educate and inspire the residential management teams that aid in the care of Battery Park City’s 680 street trees planted along approximately three miles of roadway – more than twice the city average.

“Arbor Day reminds us to care for our trees, to recognize our part in the natural world, and of our need to connect with the beauty and fragility of our world,” said Anne O’Neill, BPCA Director of Horticulture, Sustainability, and Landscape Design. “Arbor Day is an important reminder of how we can have positive impacts, here in Battery Park City and beyond.”

Saturday April 25 @ 4PM

Virtual Screening of Microplastic Madness, with Accompanying Panel Discussion – Created by the non-profit environmental organization Cafeteria Culture, the award-winning Microplastic Madness inspires kids, parents, teachers, and policy makers alike to carry out a youth-led Plastic Free Future movement in schools across the country. The film showcases the work of 56 fifth graders from P.S. 15 in Red Hook, Brooklyn, whose actions on plastic pollution morph into extraordinary leadership and scalable victories. Watch the trailer here. Program is free but space is limited, so reserve your spot today.

About Earth Day: Fifty years ago, on April 22, 1970, 20 million Americans – 10% of the U.S. population at the time – took to the streets, college campuses and hundreds of cities to protest environmental ignorance and demand a new way forward for our planet. The first Earth Day is credited with launching the modern environmental movement, and is now recognized as the planet’s largest civic event. For more information and a full schedule of events, visit: www.earthday.org/earth-day-2020/.

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