Forest Hills Green Team (FHGT) is a group of volunteers interested in greening NYC and responding to climate change, focused on local applications and activities in and around Forest Hills and Rego Park. To meet our mission, we have partnered with Friends of MacDonald Park; Queens Botanical Gardens; Queens Community Board #6; Central Queens United Independent Democrats; FH High School; MELS High School; 112 Police Precinct Council; NYC Parks Department; and DemocracyNYC. Our members are involved with Citywide groups. We have received two grants from the Citizens Committee of NY and grants from Assemblymember Hevesi’s office and Ridgewood Bank.
Must have a parent/guardian present to volunteer. Volunteer opportunities vary throughout the year. All skills and ideas are welcome!
Some examples of involvement are below:
Composting – FHGT volunteers run a weekly food scrap drop off site in partnership with Queens Botanical Gardens and Commonpoint Queens, every Sunday from 10 AM to 1 PM at their food pantry at 108-13 67 Road.
Stewards of Yellowstone Park – We are partnering with NYC Parks Department, along with Earth Citizens Club of Queens, to maintain and beautify Yellowstone Park.
Yellowstone Beautification Project – Our ongoing landscaping and beautification project on Yellowstone Boulevard between Burns and Austin Street.
Metropolitan Avenue Tree Pit Project – We are partnering with Metro Village, the local business group, to upgrade the tree pits along this busy street.
Educating Students – We have done climate change presentations for the PS 196; the Reform Temple of Forest Hills; Metropolitan Expeditionary Learning School (MELS) HS; and Bronx HS of Science. Contact us for one at your school.
Advocacy – We have a long history of advocacy for making curbside composting mandatory and continue public education about this program. We have endorsed candidates for the City Council (Lynn Schulman for Council District 29), as well as for State Assembly and State Senate races. We are working with Councilmember Schulman on planting trees that were allocated by Participatory Budgeting.
Coalitions – FHGT is a member of the Save our Compost coalition, the Borough President’s Urban Sustainability Committee, and the Central Queens Against Hate project.
Lobbying/Contact Elected Officials – Click here for a list of elected officials representing our area and their contact info.
Visit us on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/groups/foresthillsgreenteam/
Contact: Mark Laster and Dan Miner, Co-Chairs, FHGT at:Â FHGTINC@gmail.com