Take Action On MLK Day Of Service With A Forest Hills Park Event

FOREST HILLS, QUEENS — Neighbors in Forest Hills can head to a nearby park on Monday to honor the legacy of Martin Luther King Jr. during the federal holiday-slash-day-of-service.

New York City's Parks Department is organizing citywide park stewardship events on Monday, Jan. 17, in honor of Martin Luther King Jr. Day, a holiday commemorating the civil right leader's legacy through service (it's the first and only federal holiday observed as a national day of service).

One of those events is at Forest Park, where volunteers can meet from 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. to learn how to identify and safely remove invasive plants.

Invasive species removal helps restore the forest and creates a healthier ecosystem, the Parks Department says.

Participants, who need to register in advance and come with a chaperone if they are under 18-years-old, should wear sturdy shoes, long pants, and clothing that can get dirty.

Volunteers will learn how to identify and safely remove invasive plants in order to help restore the forest and create a healthier ecosystem. Come dressed in sturdy boots or shoes, long pants, and clothing that can get dirty.

In addition to citywide park cleanups, a slate of organizations are organizing "no celebration" events, alluding to President Joe Biden's call for the U.S. government to either restore and expand voting rights in honor of King's legacy or skip the celebration of his namesake holiday.

At least 400 voter suppression bills were introduced during the first five months of 2021, according to a report by Insider citing data from the Voting Rights Lab.

The late civil rights activist's family called on President Joe Biden and U.S. senators to either restore and expand voting rights in honor of King's legacy or skip the celebration of his namesake holiday.

"Voting is an essential part of our democracy's infrastructure," said Arndrea Waters King, the wife of Martin Luther King III, the son of the slain civil rights leader. "We cannot afford for it to crumble any further," she added.

Learn more about how to take action in NYC in honor of MLK here. RSVP for a Parks Department event here.

Patch editor Matt Troutman contributed to this report.