To mark the 55^th anniversary of Earth Day, Assemblyman William Colton (D—Gravesend, Bensonhurst, Bath Beach and Dyker Heights) and City Councilmember Susan Zhuang (D-Bensonhurst, Bath Beach, Gravesend, Dyker Heights, Boro Park and Sunset Park) picked up brooms and shovels and led a cleanup of Seth Low Park on Tuesday, April 22.

The event was organized in conjunction with Brooklyn Studio High School and Seth Low Intermediate School, IS 96.

“I was delighted to take part in this cleanup of Seth Low Park for Earth Day,” said Assemblyman Colton. “As we have learned over recent decades, small local events not only have an impact on the communities in which they occur, but can have a cumulative impact with benefits far beyond individual neighborhoods. I have long sponsored local events like this one, because I believe they not only help improve the quality of life for the people who live in the area, but also because I believe they teach important lessons about the importance of working together toward a common goal that enhances everyone’s day-to-day life.”

Earth Day was started in 1970 to raise awareness of environmental issues and the importance of being good stewards of the planet. While the first Earth Day was U.S.-centric, the event took on international significance in 1990. In 2016, the Paris Agreement, meant to help combat climate change and its potentially devastating impacts, was signed on Earth Day. In 2020, the 50^th anniversary of the event saw participation by upwards of 100 million people, worldwide.