Volunteers Chip Away As Over 2,546 ‘TreeCycled’ During MulchFest 2016

208 volunteers, fresh pine, and hot chocolate.

Members of the Park Slope community gathered in Prospect Park on January 9 and 10 to participate in the 20th annual MulchFest TreeCycle. This community event is hosted by a partnership between the New York City Parks, Department of Sanitation, GreeNYC, Prospect Park Alliance and other community organizations giving New Yorkers an opportunity to donate their green material to the parks.

Throughout the two-day event, residents were able to recycle their holiday trees by bringing them to one of the location sites where the trees were chipped and turned into mulch. Mulch was then distributed to the neighboring trees and plants to provide nourishment and protection during the upcoming winter months.

Residents could also take mulch back to their garden or trees on their street. This community effort to reuse and recycle has been very successful.

“There are countless ways we can care for our parks, and MulchFest is one of the simplest and most fun. With nearly 80 locations to drop off your tree this holiday season, we created plenty of mulch for our city’s trees and plants,” said NYC Parks Commissioner Mitchell J. Silver, FAICP. “Thanks to the Department of Sanitation, GreeNYC, our sponsors, and, of course, our generous community members who we count on to help keep our environment healthy and nutrient-rich.”

Of the 80 locations offered across the five boroughs, Park slope hosted two locations at the Park Circle and the 3rd Street entrances of the park. Over 2,546 trees were chipped and turned into mulch this year between the two locations, with the 3rd Street location mulching more trees than any other location across the boroughs.

The amount of trees donated to the two Park Slope locations and the 208 volunteers that helped the event run smoothly speaks volumes about this community. “Neighbors in the surrounding community are dedicated to the sustainability of the park,” commented Jessica Jamhoury, Manager of the Prospect Park Alliance’s Volunteer Corps, “and the event is a testament of the health of the community.”

With the smell of fresh pine filling the park, volunteers were treated to hot chocolate and snacks from Whole Foods Market New York City (a sponsor of the event).

Now that the event is over it is not appropriate to bring your tree to the park, instead check with the Department of Sanitation for proper disposal.

While MulchFest is one of the few outdoor volunteer activities during the winter months, be sure to check out the Prospect Park Alliances’s website for more information about upcoming volunteer activities. The spring volunteer season will kick off on March 26, and the park welcomes all volunteers.