Northern Manhattan Community Celebrates Earth Day!

Council Member Ydanis Rodriguez and Executive directors from participating organizations honored Earth Day and announced the official programming for the Uptown Car Free Day NYC. This year’s uptown Car Free Day will be on Saturday, April 27th and ran from 181st Street to 190th Street on St. Nicholas Avenue. The Car Free Day Uptown programming is organized by the Office of Council Member Ydanis Rodriguez and the Washington Heights Business Improvement District.

Council Member Ydanis Rodriguez was joined by Northern Manhattan Improvement Corporation, The Department of Transportation, Citi Bike, Dominican Women’s Development Center, CCNY’s STEM Institute, Broadway Pharmacy, Centro Medico, YM & YWHA, Morris-Jumel Mansion, Yeshiva University, Dominicanos USA, among many more.

This year they have collaborated with a variety of performers, organizations, and companies to make this event a success. Many events ranging from performances, dance classes, puppet-shows, and much more can be expected. Citi Bike, a longtime partner will be offering free one-day passes along Broadway and St. Nicholas Avenue during the Car Free Day Event!

“I want to thank Mayor Bill De Blasio, Speaker Cory Johnson and my colleagues for raising awareness and working on legislation that would benefit the environment. This issue does not only affect us, but it affects our children and our future generation. I am proud to stand by many of our Northern Manhattan partners and my staff who have been working hard to put together Car Free Day which is this Saturday, April 27th. On this day we will be honoring Earth Day and encouraging people to leave their cars as we open the streets for pedestrians and cyclists. We have to continue working each day to reduce our pollution and save our Mother Earth” – Council Member Ydanis Rodriguez, Chairman of the Transportation Committee.

We at the CCNY STEM Institute are excited to participate in this year’s Car Free Day in Washington Heights in honor of Earth Day.

“We at the CCNY STEM Institute are excited to participate in this year’s Car Free Day in Washington Heights in honor of Earth Day. This event brings awareness of the impact we have on our environment and the importance of preserving it for future generations. The Institute focuses on preparing the future generation of engineers and scientist from this neighborhood who will lead the charge to safeguard our environment. We praise Council Member Ydanis Rodriguez vision and leadership in making Car Free Day a yearly event throughout New York City,” – Professor Joseph Barba, Director CCNY STEM Institute.

I think Car Free Day is about the community coming out and being visible and clear about our priorities, taking a decisive and public stand that we need to be fighting climate change in big and small ways.

“I think Car Free Day is about the community coming out and being visible and clear about our priorities, taking a decisive and public stand that we need to be fighting climate change in big and small ways. The earth belongs to everyone, the streets belong to everyone, and that goes along with our core belief as an organization that dance is for everyone, so we’re proud and grateful to be included in this important event”- Heather Elizabeth Godfrey, Executive Director, Dance Project of Washington Heights

Some of the activities you will see at this year’s Uptown Car Free Day:

• 181st to 182nd Street: Join City College STEM Institute’s team to explore robotics and computer programming. Participants can also cross the open space to climb aboard a New York City FDNY truck. WellCare, TD Bank and other partners will have tables to welcome guests with free giveaways.
• 182nd and 183rd Street: Main stage, offering performances by local partners, such as Dance Project of Washington Height and Jazz Power, as well as acts such as Carnegie Hall and El Chaval.
• 183rd and 184th Street: Bike New York and DOT have partnered again this year for a Bike Bonanza, from 11:00AM to 2:30 PM. Bring an outgrown children’s bike and you can upgrade for a current size. Once again, we will be providing free bike helmets to all participants.
• 184th and 185th Street: Try out a Citi Bike, learn your route to work with Uptown & Boogie Bike, or challenge yourself to an obstacle course provided by Asphalt Green and The Armory. Participants can also stop by the WellCare to get a free health screening.
• 185th and 186th Street: Sports all day! Participants can play volleyball with BAMESA USA, tennis with Washington Heights Tennis Association, football with the Van Courtland Titans or soccer with the Charles Street Soccer.
• 186th St and 187th Street: WeAct for Environmental Justice will be hosting a Swap, Shop, and Repair Fair from 12:00pm – 3:00pm. Bring your old clothes, dishware or toys and swap with neighbors. Attend one of their workshops to learn how to reuse and repair everyday items. You can also chat with many of our citywide agencies, Department of Environmental Protection. Mayor’s office of Sustainability, Commission on Human Rights, or the Office of Emergency Management.
• West 187th Street: The Children will love the performance space! They can enjoy puppet shows by the Wildlife Conservation Society; Bronx Zoo, as well as Repartorio Español. Participants can also take dance or theater workshops with People’s Theatre Project or DPWH.
• 187th St to 190th Street: More children’s activities! Activities include face painting, balloon animals, and environmental design. Children can also make art projects with the mind-blowing Children’s Museum of Art. Participants can pick up a free book from Literacy Inc and write a poem with Uptown Stories. At this site, you can learn to row with Row NY or explore sailing with Hudson River Community Sailing. To close it out, there will be amazing Zumba or yoga classes at 190th Street.

Click here for information about Earth Day and Uptown Car Free Day NYC.