Yesterday, the Green Roof Researchers Alliance (GRRA) announced the recipients of this year’s research and outreach grants.  We are thrilled to learn that Newtown Creek Alliance (NCA) and Kingsland Wildflowers at Broadway Stages is among the three recipients receiving a grant.  The NCA led project entitled “Green Roofs Explained” will use the spectacular Kingsland Wildflowers as a backdrop and living example to produce a short film to answer the questions: What are Green Roofs? What exactly do they do? How do they improve our changing environment? Where should they be located? Who benefits? 

GRRA is a consortium of over 60 researchers, educators, and policymakers from 21 different institutions. Founded in 2017, it is coordinated by NYC Audubon with funding from The New York Community Trust. Their mission is to study green roofs and promote their expansion by facilitating collaboration among researchers studying the environmental benefits of green roofs, developing policy, creating curriculum, and working to advance green roofs in NYC to improve sustainability, resilience, biodiversity, and equitable access to urban nature.

Through mapping, environmental data collection and analysis of biological monitoring, the GRRA has created a centralized hub of NYC green roof information (Green Roofs NYC) that serves as a resource to inform residents, developers, and business owners about the benefits of green roofs and connect them with green roof resources, including policy, finance options, and educational curriculum.  We encourage you to learn more about GRRA and Green Roofs NYC and if you are not already involved, become a part of the green movement. 

Congratulations to NCA for receiving this grant and for their efforts and commitment to environmental protection and restoration in our community.  We will keep you posted on the progress of the short film, “Green Roofs Explained.” And be sure to mark your calendar for the 5th Kingsland Wildflowers Festival on July 31.  The view and ambiance from our green rooftop is spectacular!