WHO? Solar One, the City’s first solar-powered “Green Energy, Arts, and Education Center,” inspires New Yorkers to become environmentally responsible city dwellers. Located in Stuyvesant Cove Park’s , the organization promotes hands on activities for city dwellers that want to come closer to the local plant and animal populations. In the 1.9 acres of the park indigenous species of plants grow providing shelter to bird species in the area. The National Wildlife Federation has designated Stuyvesant Cove Park as Wildlife Habitat #50805. Tne park is located next to the east river and its waterfront provides habitat to a selection of plants and fish.
This afternoon I met with Chris Neidl, involved in CitySol an outdoor, clean energy, interactive art and music festival that takes place in the summer. Chris, also interested in urban games as means to convey an ecological message to the NYC dwellers.
WHAT? A great-productive conversation that enlightened me in many areas, with regards to environmental issues that NYC faces, as well as organizations and people who do similar work to my thesis project (as vague as this may be at the moment). A schematic of our discussion can be seen below :
1. Environmental problems (to be continued)
- Untreated storm water and sewage into the east river ( S.W. I.M.)
- Oyster extinction – see the big oyster, by Mark Kurlansky
2. Organisations
- The River Project : ‘is a marine science field station founded in 1986 at Pier 26 in Tribeca, on the lower west side of Manhattan, in New York City. The River Project works to protect and restore the ecosystem of the Hudson River estuary through scientific research, hands-on environmental education, and urban habitat improvement. The River Project’s programs and interactive exhibits expand public understanding of the estuary and inspire people to appreciate the ecosystem they live in. An intimate view of what is at the waterfront and beneath the surface contributes to a sense of well-being for urban residents and to the perception of New York City as a viable place to live and work. ‘
- CUP- THe Center for Urban Pedagogy – ‘ CUP works with youth to create collaborative projects that explore the urban environment. Our educational projects build on the everyday experiences of young people to ask questions about democracy, civic participation and social justice. We believe that civic engagement requires a new kind of civic education, one that explains how important decisions actually get made, what is at stake, and how residents can be involved. Our projects use art, design, and technology to draw the connections between everyday life and the decisions that give it form.’
