Volunteers will remove invasive species from the reservoir. (NYC H20)
March 8, 2019 By Laura Hanrahan
Gardening and nature enthusiasts alike can help landscape the Ridgewood Reservoir this weekend as part of a monthly program to remove invasive species from the greenspace.
The event, organized by the New York City Parks Department and non-profit group NYC H2O, will take place on the morning of Sunday, March 10.
Volunteers will meet at 10 a.m. on Vermont Place, across the street from the reservoir, before heading out to prune the reservoir’s natural landscape, home to more than 175 species of plants.
The initiative will focus on removing mugwort, bittersweet, knotweed and plant pine trees between reservoir basins two and three.
The Ridgewood Reservoir, located on the border of Queens and Brooklyn, was initially built in 1859 to supply water to the then-independent city of Brooklyn.
After it was decommissioned in the 1980’s, the natural landscape emerged, and the more than 50 acres of reservoir space became home to hundreds of species of plants and birds.
The reservoir recently received protected wetland status after many years of advocacy from local and environmental groups.
Four more monthly landscaping events are planned for the Spring and Summer on April 7, May 19, June 9, and July 21.
Those who are interested in volunteering can register on the event page.
