Greenpoint's Newest Rooftop Garden Overlooks Iconic Sewage Treatment Plant

GREENPOINT, BROOKLYN — The neighborhood's newest rooftop garden, whose first section will open to the public this weekend, comes complete with an iconic, up-close view of the eight silver "digester eggs" that form the Newtown Creek Wastewater Treatment Plant. Because, you know, Greenpoint.

To celebrate the opening of the new, 10,000-square-foot green roof, perched atop a former warehouse at 520 Kingsland Ave., community members are invited to the "Kingsland Wildflower Festival" this Saturday Sept. 24, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Garden-related activities for both kids and adults are on the day's schedule. Food and beer will be available.

Attendees will be welcome to explore three rooftops that have been "planted with a combination of native grasses and wild flowers while enjoying panoramic views of Manhattan, Brooklyn, Queens and Newtown Creek," organizers said. "The event will also offer the chance for visitors to engage with partner organizations working on green infrastructure and environmental sustainability programs in North Brooklyn."

The final size of the green roof at 520 Kingsland is expected to exceed 20,000 square feet, and will hopefully be completed in 2017, according to Greenroofs.

According to the Kingland Wildflower Project site:

The concept was envisioned early in 2015 when Marni Majorelle, owner and founder of Alive Structures green roofing company, saw an opportunity to create habitat for plant and wildlife alongside a community space encouraging conversation and education around New York City conservation efforts. The dream was to utilize existing warehouse infrastructure in Greenpoint to cultivate native grasses and wildflowers to support birds and insects in the neighborhood. With the help of NYC wildlife experts at NYC Audubon Society and property owner, Broadway Stages, a proposal was submitted to the Greenpoint Community Environmental Fund (GCEF) to transform the 520 Kingsland warehouse into such a green space.

Lead image and flyer courtesy of the Kingsland Wildflower Project