Gowanus Canal Conservancy

A new decade 🥹 We hope you’ll join us this year in celebrating two decades of stewardship, education and advocacy. Thank you to our incredible neighbors, community partners, volunteers, educators, youth, and more for sharing our vision of a green and resilient Gowanus. 20 years & building!

our rain garden plant installation led by @k.are.why and @reg_ality from last October 😅 school is very busy so these are late uploads! The gardens are doing well 💚👌🏾 GCC’s stewardship and programs team, including our volunteers, care for a variety of rain gardens throughout Gowanus. Green infrastructure is one solution the city is putting in place to reduce stormwater runoff.

Join us tomorrow at Powerhouse Arts to celebrate GCC’s 20th Anniversary and honor the Gowanus Oversight Task Force as a bold model for keeping government accountable and ensuring New York City invests the promised $450M into Gowanus infrastructure, open space, and other community benefits for the future of the neighborhood. During the many years of community planning and advocacy that led to the 2021 Gowanus Rezoning, community members learned that the City often delayed or reneged on commitments after rezonings, leaving residents without critical investments and much-needed public space. It became clear that in addition to fighting for City commitments for renovations to public housing, new public spaces, sewer infrastructure and other key community benefits, neighborhoods also needed to fight for a mechanism to hold the City accountable. Through strong, persistent and coordinated local advocacy, the Gowanus neighborhood secured 56 City Commitments (or Points of Agreement) through the Gowanus Rezoning, representing a total of $450 million of investment in the neighborhood - an unprecedented win. The first commitment required the City to recognize, report to and support the formation of the Gowanus Oversight Task Force. Today, the all-volunteer Task Force includes 30 members plus an additional 14 committee members and organizational alternates. Members work proactively and collaboratively with City agencies to advance timely and equitable implementation of the community goals and 56 commitments detailed in the 2021 Gowanus Neighborhood Plan. The Task Force coordinates quarterly reporting from agencies on each commitment and hosts public meetings so neighbors can hear directly from the City on the status of its commitments. We are thrilled to honor the Task Force and its members tomorrow, May 7. Tickets available at the link in our bio.

Enjoy a gourmet Gowanus experience at our 20th Anniversary Party this Thursday! Join GCC on May 7th at Powerhouse Arts for delicious bites and crisp brews that highlight the variety and creativity of 11 neighborhood favorites. Tickets are still available at the link in our bio!

On May 7th, we’ll gather at Powerhouse Arts to celebrate GCC’s 20th Anniversary and honor Congresswoman Nydia Velázquez for her work as an environmental champion who embraced and advanced our shared vision for an equitable and biodiverse Gowanus across our first two decades. Nydia Velázquez first began representing Gowanus in the House of Representatives in 1993. Until redistricting took effect in 2022, Gowanus was at the heart of her district, along with Newtown Creek. Representing not one, but two, contaminated NYC waterbodies needing remediation and environmental care was a unique challenge that she rose to each and every time. Years of expertise, close listening and community engagement from the Congresswoman and her team meant that the Gowanus Canal and the public realm were at the forefront of her advocacy priorities. The Congresswoman had the foresight to support critical environmental efforts that have had long-standing impacts on the City. Beloved and respected by agencies, community partners and constituents, the Congresswoman’s determination moved innumerable projects forward and supported the founding of Gowanus Canal Conservancy in 2006. She championed the Gowanus neighborhood for more than a decade before us, and has continued to support our organization and mission through the years that followed. The Congresswoman and her team are pillars of the foundation of Gowanus Canal Conservancy and we are grateful for her passion and belief in our shared vision of a thriving, biodiverse and clean neighborhood. At the end of 2026, the Congresswoman will move into a new chapter with her retirement. She leaves an indelible mark on the Gowanus neighborhood – leaving it cleaner and greener for generations to come. We hope you’ll join us to celebrate Congresswoman Velázquez and GCC’s next twenty years on May 7! Tickets available at the link in our bio.

Get ready to dance all night at Gowanus Blooms!! 💃🕺 We’re one week away from our 20th Anniversary Party, hosted by @murrayhill , and are excited to announce our full party lineup: 6:30 PM DJ Set by @dionnevandenberg 7:45 PM Live Music by @slavicsoulparty 8:45 PM DJ Set by @questlove Tickets available at the link in our bio and include food from eight local restaurants and open bar Guests must be 21+

🌱 New green jobs initiative! The Doe Fund is partnering with @nycwater , aka the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP), and the @gowanuscanalconservancy to create green jobs, including for folks in Ready, Willing & Able. @doefundceo , Jennifer Mitchell shares how this effort supports Ready, Willing & Able graduates and contributes to the long-term care of New York City’s green infrastructure. We’re grateful to our partners for their collaboration.

gowanus hallelujah

Looking for a fun way to celebrate Earth Day? Join us for the 2026 City Nature Challenge! Whether you’re interested in exploring marine life at the Lowlands Nursery documenting local birds while strolling through Thomas Greene Park or finding out what creatures are living among the native plants at the 420 Carroll Street esplanade there’s something for everyone! 🐟🪿🐞🌱 4/24 Exploring Gowanus Canal Marine Life 📍Lowlands Nursery 4/25 Gowanus Community Festival Nature Walks 📍Thomas Greene Park 4/27 Wildlife Survey 📍420 Carroll Street All events are free to attend and no prior experience in wildlife observation is needed. Advanced registration is required for Friday 4/24 and Monday 4/27. To register, click the link in our bio.

Tomorrow begins the City Nature Challenge and I will be leading a few events with @gowanuscanalconservancy If you’re interested in the weird and wonderful in an incredibly interesting and changing space in NYC, then you should come discover plants and animals with us! Our events (and others) are listed here: /projects/city-nature-challenge-2026-new-york-city/journal/124918-event-list-for-cnc-nyc-2026 Registration for Friday and Monday’s events are required and close soon, grab your spot now! #citynaturechallenge #gowanus #wildlife #brooklyn #gowanuscanal

HAPPY EARTH DAY 🌳in celebration of the #URBANFORESTPLAN being released, here is a video I never uploaded from last fall 😭 you should still check out @forestforallnyc AND you can still do tree stewardship with our org @gowanuscanalconservancy led by @reg_ality 🫡 @nyclimate #EARTHWEEK 💚

You’re invited to our 20th Anniversary Party! 🎉 Join us on May 7th at @powerhouse_arts to toast to two decades of GCC with your neighbors. The evening will feature food from local restaurants, live music from @slavicsoulparty and a DJ Set by @questlove . We’re thrilled to be honoring Congresswoman Nydia Velàzquez, a groundbreaking leader who championed an equitable and biodiverse Gowanus through our organization’s foundational years, and the Gowanus Oversight Task Force, a bold model for keeping government accountable and ensuring commitments are met for the future of the Gowanus neighborhood. Tickets are available now at the link in our bio!