Awarded through the Greenpoint Community Environmental Fund, Project Plans Include Green Roof, Composting Space, and 80% Increase in Public Space
New York, NY— The Greenpoint Community Environmental Fund has awarded Brooklyn Public Library a $5 million legacy grant to build a new Greenpoint Environmental Education Center (GEEC) at its existing neighborhood branch, the Fund announced this week. Winners were selected with community input and oversight from the Attorney General’s office and the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC).
The GEEC will offer a centrally located space where community groups dedicated to addressing environmental issues can hold meetings and host public programming and workshops. It will promote environmental awareness, education, and advocacy, and will provide a needed forum for community members to learn about the history of the neighborhood as well as its unique and ongoing environmental challenges.
Greenpoint Library is one of BPL’s busiest branches. Known for its collections for the local Polish community, as well as diverse cultural, early childhood literacy and health programs, the branch is an essential community hub. This new space at the branch will dramatically increase public space, in addition to providing state-of-the-art environmental education. Features include:
- A 6,500-square-foot environmental education center on the Library’s new 2nd floor, increasing public space by more than 80%
- Accessible green roof with open space for public use, native plant landscaping and greenhouse learning center
- 200-square-foot community composting space
- LEED Silver Green Building Certification through “green” building components
- A community hub for free environmental programs, information and meeting rooms available for use by local community groups
- Environmental and local history collection and resources, and more than 300 annual programs in partnership with local environmental organizations and educational groups
"We are so appreciative that the Greenpoint Community Environmental Fund and our neighbors in Greenpoint thought highly enough of our project and the work we do to award us the largest gift we have received in our long history,” said Linda E. Johnson, President and CEO of the Brooklyn Public Library. “We can’t wait to start conversations with library patrons and other neighborhood stakeholders about the design, not only of the building but also of the environmental education programs we will be offering in our renovated and expanded space."
The proposed environmental features of the GEEC, the proposed first floor plan, second floor plan, and rooftop layout can be viewed on BPL’s website. The project is expected to be completed in 2018.
The Greenpoint Community Environmental Fund (GCEF) is a joint program of the New York State Office of the Attorney General and Department of Environmental Conservation. The GCEF program is a $19.5 million grant program created by the State of New York with monies obtained through a settlement with ExxonMobil over its Greenpoint oil spill. BPL will provide roughly $5.8 million in matching contributions for the project.
About Brooklyn Public Library
Brooklyn Public Library (BPL) is an independent library system for the 2.5 million residents of Brooklyn. It is the fifth largest library system in the United States with 60 neighborhood libraries located throughout the borough. BPL offers free programs and services for all ages and stages of life, including a large selection of books in more than 30 languages, author talks, literacy programs and public computers. BPL’s eResources, such as eBooks and eVideos, catalog information and free homework help, are available to customers of all ages 24 hours a day at our website: www.bklynlibrary.org.
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