Cleaning and Greening Kew Gardens!

A Blockbuster of a Day in Kew Gardens, Queens!

Residents join together to transform their block as part of Love Your (NYC) Block Campaign
On Sunday, May 16, 2010, from 9:30am-4:30pm (rain date May 20), the Kew Gardens community will unite for “The Kew Gardens Blockbuster Clean and Green Day”  and will focus their energies on both sides of Metropolitan Avenue from Audley Street to 83 Avenue.

Young and old, neighbors and business owners will work side-by-side to transform their block.  They’ll grab their brooms and dustpans, sweep away dirt and garbage to prepare for the planting of ten tree wells. Then volunteers will work in tree teams to plant red and pink begonias, peach impatiens and white petunias, a bright pattern of color that will line the block. After planting, the next step will be watering, mulching and the finale, the reading of original Root for Tree Poems, written by local children, to encourage the trees growth and instill a respect for nature. There will be opportunities for individual families to become tree stewards. They will watch the flowers that have they planted bloom and grow and will learn to nurture and maintain them through the seasons. 

May 16^th will not only be about cleaning and greening. The local businesses will welcome their neighbors and will offer special sales, discounts and giveaways. There will be live music and presentations by NYC environmental groups that will focus on recycling and how individuals can learn how to improve their own environment. For the children, face painting (flowers and trees of course!) and arts and crafts projects using recycled materials. 

The Kew Gardens Blockbuster Clean and Green Day will be a unique and successful hit!
The event will be part of the Love Your (NYC) Block Campaign, a partnership between NYC Service and Citizens Committee for NYC. The campaign provides each group with a $500 grant to cover project costs as well as direct links to services provided by City Agencies, including the Department of Transportation, Sanitation and Parks and Recreation. The Kew Gardens Improvement Association, Inc. was one of sixty neighborhood groups that were selected to take part in the campaign. The city agencies working with these groups are providing support services such as: graffiti removal, cleaning vacant lots, repairing damaged or missing street signage and street lights, ticketing illegal dumping and replacing worn-out or missing litter baskets.

Mark Sunday May 16^th on your calendar and be prepared to roll up your sleeves, get down in the dirt with your friends and neighbors and enjoy the pleasure of your efforts everyday that you walk “on the street where you live!” For more information or volunteer on May 16^th, please contact: kgblockbusters@gmail.com or call (917) 881-3358.