#GoingGreenForParkies ~ Empire State Building and Other City Landmarks to Go Green in honor of Parks Workers on May 21st ~ a day when New York City will salute Park workers around the World with green lights and by wearing green, and In a show of support, San Francisco’s City Hall, Coit Tower, and Conservatory; Australia’s Royal Botanic Garden Sydney; and the Con Edison tower all lit green for parkies.
NYC Parks today announced that New York City will go green in tribute to essential park workers with an iconic lighting of the Empire State Building, and NYC Parks’ Arsenal, Washington Square Arch and other elements across the city. From New York City to San Francisco, and around the world, park workers have continued to maintain parks in support of the mental and physical health of all visitors during the current COVID-19 pandemic–#
“More than ever, city parks and greenspaces have proven to be critical infrastructure, places of refuge, and park workers have been on the frontlines keeping these sanctuaries of sanity open here in New York, across the country and around the world,” said NYC Parks Commissioner Mitchell J. Silver, FAICP. “In honor of the tremendous work they put in every day, we are proud to work with the Empire State Building to light New York City green in honor of parkies near and far!”
The #GoingGreenForParkies celebration will include the following lightings in New York City:
- The Empire State Building
- The Arsenal (Central Park)*
- The Washington Square Park Arch*
- The Parachute Jump (Coney Island Boardwalk)
- NYC Parks’ Ranaqua (Bronx)*
- NYC Parks’ elements will be lit through the end of June 2020
In addition to the five lightings, NYC Parks is putting out a call to those who love greenspaces–the smallest to the largest–to wear green when visiting their favorite park this Thursday, and to share a thank you on social media platforms using #GoingGreenForParkies. Parks will share the love by featuring shoutouts on its social media channels @NYCParks.
NYC Parks staff have been out every day keeping our city’s greenspaces open for all visitors. From our Forestry and Maintenance and Operations teams, to our Public Programming staff and Parks Ambassadors, to our Parks Enforcement Patrol officers and Urban Park Rangers–they have all gone above and beyond during these uncertain times. In addition to continuing standard roles and responsibilities during the pandemic, Parks staff assisted with standing up field hospitals; are operating GetFood distribution sites, with more than 13 million meals distributed; are educating park goers about safe social distancing, and handing out face coverings, and more.
“On behalf of all of us at NYC Parks, thank you to the Empire State Building, Mayor Bill de Blasio and other elected officials, and all other destinations around the world for joining us in our effort to honor the frontline workers maintaining our sanctuaries of sanity—our city parks,” said NYC Parks Commissioner Mitchell J. Silver, FAICP. “As our essential park workers continue to maintain our parks, so too will we continue to honor them. In continued tribute, NYC Parks features will remain lit green through June.”
#GoingGreenForParkies