Did you know that New York City is home to more than 800,000 street trees?
October 4, 2025 is City of Forest Day, hosted by Forest For All NYC in partnership with the Parks and Open Space Partners coalition and NYC Parks. Neighbors across all five boroughs will come together to celebrate and care for the urban forest - which makes our city cooler, cleaner, and more fun to explore. From planting and caring for trees to learning how compost keeps soil healthy, it’s a day to put your hands in the dirt and give back to our city.
Big Reuse is proud to participate in this initiative, giving us a chance to show how composting and tree care go hand-in-hand, and how impactful it can be when volunteers come out and steward green spaces together. In fact, we’re so excited that we made it a full weekend of tree care and composting activities! We’re working towards creating compost to help trees grow stronger, supporting healthy trees that provide shade and cleaner air, and making NYC more resilient and sustainable.
Join us at an event near you - be part of this citywide celebration!
Street Tree Care Volunteer Events
Join us to help street trees in your community by cleaning tree beds, loosening soil, adding compost and mulch, and giving them the care they need to stay healthy and strong.
BROOKLYN:
Gowanus
Big Reuse - RSVP HERE
10/4, 10am-12pm
📍1 12th Street Brooklyn, NY 11215
Sponsored by Council Member Alexa Avilés
Brooklyn Heights
Brooklyn Heights Association and Council Member Restler - RSVP HERE
10/4, 10am-12pm
📍27 Willow Pl, Brooklyn, NY 11201
Sponsored by Council Member Lincoln Restler
Cobble Hill
D39 Tree Team, Cobble Hill Tree Fund, and CHA - RSVP HERE
10/4, 2-4pm
📍425 Henry Street Brooklyn, NY 11201
Sponsored by Council Member Shahana Hanif
QUEENS:
Long Island City
Street Tree Care w/ Smiling Hogshead Ranch - RSVP HERE
10/4, 12pm-3pm
📍23-30 Skillman Avenue Queens, NY 11101
Sponsored by Council Member Julie Won
Astoria
Socrates Sculpture Park - RSVP HERE
10/4, 4-6pm
📍32-01 Vernon Boulevard Queens, NY 11106
Sponsored by Council Member Tiffany Cabán
MANHATTAN:
Upper East Side
Adamah and Lex & 3rd Block Association - RSVP HERE
10/5, 10am-12pm
📍177 E 100th St, New York, NY 10029
Sponsored by Council Member Julie Menin
East Harlem
Rodale Community Garden - RSVP HERE
10/5, 2pm-4pm
📍437 East 114th Street New York, NY 10029
Sponsored by Council Member Diana Ayala
BRONX:
Fordham University
Adamah and Decatur Block Association - RSVP HERE
10/5, 3pm-5pm
📍2653 Decatur Ave, Bronx, NY 10458
Sponsored by Council Member Oswald Feliz
Composting Volunteer Event
Join our composting team at this City of Forest Day event!
Test the Soil near Gowanus Canal Conservancy! See the scientific benefits of land stewardship at a demonstration of microbiometer soil testing led by our Big Reuse composting team. This demonstration will be followed by a tree care session with Gowanus Canal Conservancy from 11 am-1 pm. RSVP HERE
10/4, 10am-11am
📍248 3rd St, Brooklyn, NY 11215
Want to keep the momentum going? City of Forest Day is just the beginning! Big Reuse hosts composting workshops and tree care events all year long, and we’d love for you to join us.
RSVP HERE for upcoming volunteer opportunities across NYC. Bring your friends and family and help keep NYC’s trees strong and our neighborhoods green!
Blog Post written by NYSERDA Fellow Tatiana Guerra