Volunteering: Landscaping and Cleanup @ Ridgewood Reservoir (with NYC H2O)
Details
Our friends at NYC H2O are organizing a volunteer day at the beautiful Ridgewood Reservoir, and Shorewalkers are invited to join! Together with NYC H2O and the NYC Parks Department we will help remove invasive plants and plant native species (amongst other things) in this remarkable urban nature area on the Brooklyn/Queens border.
Ridgewood Reservoir is a fascinating place. Built in 1859 to supply Brooklyn with drinking water, it was decommissioned in the 1980s. Since then, nature has taken over: dense forests now fill two basins while a freshwater pond occupies the third. Today it is an important stop for migrating birds along the Atlantic Flyway.
Come spend a few hours outdoors doing something good for NYC’s natural spaces.
## Important: Two-Step Registration
Please sign up in both places:
- RSVP on Meetup so Shorewalkers know who is coming.
- Register on Eventbrite (required) so NYC H2O can track volunteer numbers and send updates. Eventbrite registration:
## Meeting Point
The NYC H2O team meets us at the Ridgewood Reservoir parking lot:
Parking Lot on Vermont Place across from Ridgewood Reservoir / Highland Park
Brooklyn, NY 11207
This is the official NYC H2O meeting location.
Optional: meet at 9:30am at the Cleveland Street subway station (J train) and walk over together (about 20 minutes).
Nearest Subway station: Cleveland Street / J Train.
Other nearby options include: Norwood Ave (J/Z) - 20 minutes walk, Broadway Junction (A, C, L, J, Z) - 30 minutes walk, or Highland Park area bus routes.
Note: plan at least 1 hour travel time from Manhattan.
## What to Bring
• Comfortable clothes you don’t mind getting dirty
• Closed-toe shoes or sturdy sneakers
• Work gloves (if you have them – some may be provided)
• Water bottle
• Sun protection (hat / sunscreen depending on weather)
NYC H2O and NYC Parks will provide tools and instructions.
## After the Event
If there is interest, we may walk over afterward to one of the breweries in the nearby Glendale/Ridgewood area for a well-earned drink and some socializing 🍻.
Hike leader: Sigrid Stropnik (text with your name: 404-991-8229)