City of Water Day @ BRAC 2026
City of Water Day is a free, drop-in public program centered at BRAC with rotating indoor workshops and guided outdoor excursions along the Bronx River Greenway to Drew Gardens. The day connects art-making, environmental learning, and community participation through hands-on activities rooted in the Bronx River watershed.
Participants move between stations at BRAC and guided outdoor experiences that include river access points, a riverbank clean-up, and a walking tour of the Greenway ecosystem.
Schedule
12PM: Bronx River Greenway Walking Tour: Get your walking shoes on with Nilka Martell from Loving the Bronx, as she leads a City of Water Day walking tour exploring the rich history and remarkable transformation of the Bronx River. Participants will journey through the river's story — from its Indigenous roots and the colonial era to its role during slavery, decades of pollution, and the community-led restoration that continues today. The tour also includes visits to two Bronx River-adjacent community gardens, including Drew Gardens, highlighting the vital connection between local communities, green spaces, and the river. This event starts the corner of 180th St. and Boston Rd at noon.
12PM: DIY Workshop Stations
- Blue to the Root — Upcycled Fashion Workshop: Participants will work with studio artist Sheryl Saly Touré to create indigo-dyed fabric swatches while exploring traditional resist-dye techniques, pattern making, and the unique properties of natural indigo.
- Making Marks: A Printmaking Adventure: Led by Andres Senra, participants will collect interesting objects and surfaces from their surroundings, then create texture rubbings using paper and crayons or graphite. This activity encourages observation, creativity, and exploration through found textures.
12PM: Storytime and Children's Book Giveaway
1PM - 3PM: Paper Making Workshop: Enjoy an art workshop with Michele Brody, a Bronx-based environmental artist whose practice centers on handmade paper, sculpture, and immersive installation. With her guidance, you'll make paper using pulp, water, and other natural materials: resources gathered from or near the Bronx River. This activity calls back to the Bronx River's paper mill history and BRAC's restoration legacy.
2PM - 4PM: Tea Ceremony: To promote mindfulness, a connection to nature, and community care, artist Wenting Zhang from Tea Arts & Culture will lead a communal tea ceremony.
3PM: Riverbank Clean-Up: Help us keep the river clean! Gloves, bags, and safety briefing will be provided as we tidy up along accessible Bronx River Greenway sections.
RSVP for this free event!