Two Bridges Neighborhood Council has been dedicated to serving the many neighborhoods of Manhattan’s Lower East Side since 1955. We create equitable housing, celebrate cultural diversity through neighborhood-based programs, and work together with local residents, businesses, entrepreneurs, and leaders to stimulate and maintain economic vitality. Our STEM-focused summer and after school programs use Pier 42 as a living laboratory to explore the urban ecology of our waterfront community.
EDUCATIONAL AND PUBLIC PROGRAMMING ON PIER 42:
CITIZEN SCIENCE ACTIVITIES: Science educators from Two Bridges & We Grok It host Citizen Science activities on the pier during public events. During a Bio Blitz in May 2014, residents and volunteer scientist worked together to count over 4439 individual organisms representing 108 unique species in just 4 hours! This data and more is being added to the Climate & Urban Systems Partnership (CUSP) map, to create an interactive, crowd- sourced snapshot of our urban environment in the face of climate change. See the map here: http://cuspmap.org/NYC/
ARM OF THE SEA THEATRE: For a second year, Two Bridges presented a free evening of magnificent puppet theatre featuring the Arm of the Sea Theatre. 2014’s presentation, The Rejuvenary River Circus, was an allegorical tale of a river and its watershed, featuring gorgeous masks and puppet characters, a biomorphic set design, and live original music.
PIER 42 KITE FESTIVAL: In 2013, Two Bridges launched the first annual Pier 42 Kite Festival. Over 200 individuals and families came out to design, build, and fly kites on Pier 42. A true blend of art & science, awards were given for highest flying, fastest, and most unique homemade kites. A jury of residents and engineers helped judge the kite competition.
