Brooklyn Parks Get Some TLC for New York Cares Day

New York Cares Day Spring will help spruce up 25 Brooklyn parks on Saturday, April 21, from 9:30 a.m. until 3 p.m., and the event is looking for volunteers who want to help build benches, re-paint signs, mulch plantings and prepare the parks for spring.

New York Cares Day Spring is the sixth annual day of service run by volunteer organization New York Cares.

“We still need an additional 2,000 volunteers to sign up to be able to tackle all the work that needs to be done on New York Cares Day,” Gary Bagley, Executive Director of New York Cares said, in a statement. “This year, we have a special focus on the city’s waterfront, in addition to our traditional gardening projects. Volunteers will restore 10 miles of coastline across New York City to make these areas more sustainable for plant and animal life and more accessible for city residents.

New Yorkers (12 years old and up) can register to volunteer at www.newyorkcaresday.org, with a registration fee of $20 per person. The website provides details including how to participate and how to make a donation in honor of a team or a volunteer. Volunteers under 18 must be accompanied by a parent or guardian.

Sites in Brooklyn slated to be spruced-up on New York Cares Day Spring include:

•     Hands and Heart Garden (formerly New Lots Urban Farm)
•     New Vision Garden
•     East New York Farms/United Community Center
•     Herbal Garden in East New York
•     Floral Vineyard Community Garden
•     Triple R Garden
•     High School for Public Service Youth Farm
•     Hattie Carthan Community Garden
•     Fort Greene Park
•     Red Hook Community Farm
•     Prospect Park
•     Brooklyn Bridge Park Conservancy
•     Tranquility Farm
•     Sternberg Park
•     Classon Ful-Gate Block Association Garden
•     Poppa and Mama Jones Garden
•     East River State Park
•     Hattie Carthan Herban Farm
•     Abib Newborn Garden
•     Jersey Barriers at the Columbia Waterfront
•     Jersey Barriers in Downtown Brooklyn
•     Jerry and the Senior Gents Garden
•     HS 454 K – The Green School
•     Grand Ferry Park
•     CAUSA Festival Garden