Village of Mamaroneck Unveils New Marine Education Center at 5th Annual Clean Up/Green Up Day, April 27

A new Marine Education Center at Harbor Island Park will have its grand opening at the Fifth Annual Clean Up/Green Up Day on Saturday, April 27. The new Center, which will be permanently housed at the East River Basin of Mamaroneck Harbor in Harbor Island Park, was created by a small group of long time village residents to promote knowledge, conservation and stewardship of the local Long Island Sound ecosystem through educational programs, outreach and special events.  

The Center will house fish tanks with marine animals collected from Mamaroneck Harbor, teaching displays incorporating local shells and horseshoe crabs, and a photography exhibit entitled "The Water Birds of Mamaroneck Harbor."  There will also be a Committee for the Environment (CFTE) display, through which village residents will learn about the Citizens Water Quality Alert Program, and will find out how to report water pollution in village waterways. 

Clean Up/Green Up Day is an annual gathering of volunteers who gather to do a spring cleaning of Harbor Island Park. Started five years ago, volunteers have dragged tires, logs, shopping carts, plastic trash and other type of debris out of the river, marshlands and beaches.  More recently, kayakers have joined the clean up to get floatable debris that cannot be reached from the shore. 

“Clean Up/Green Up Day is an excellent example of how committed the citizens of Mamaroneck are to our environment,” said Sarah Robbins Evans, co-chair of the Village of Mamaroneck CTFE.  “Volunteers of all ages participate, from school groups to larger organizations such as Habitat for Humanity, bringing together families and neighbors united in our desire to keep our beautiful village clean and sustain its resources for future generations.” 

“It’s tremendously satisfying to see the idea for a small Marine Education Center in our waterfront public park finally become a reality,” said Katherine Desmond, a longtime resident of Mamaroneck who spearheaded the creation of the new center together with her husband, Jim and other committed volunteers.  “We believe that the Marine Education Center will connect our families, friends, and neighbors to the living treasures right in our own Harbor and Long Island Sound. The projects and exhibits offered by The Marine Center will inspire more people appreciate, protect, and enjoy our village's marine resources. A very special thanks goes to Mayor Norman Rosenblum, without whose support this Center would never have come into being.” 

Clean Up Green Up Day festivities will also include a tree planting ceremony, followed by refreshments for all volunteers, donated by local merchants.  Clean up bags, gloves and tools are provided for all volunteers, though volunteers are asked to bring their own water bottles.  Kick off schedule for the day will be as follows:

• 9:00 a.m. -  Official ribbon cutting of the Marine Education Center at Harbor Island Park, next to the boat ramp, East Basin.
• 9:30 a.m. - Clean-up, sign-up and tree panting ceremony at the Pavilion-Harbor Island Park; refreshments and tools will be available.
• 10:00 a.m. - Klean up Kayakers - meet at boat ramp for from-the-water clean up.

After the clean-up, volunteers and other members of the public will be able to board the SoundWaters Schooner, which will be docked just below the new Marine Education Center at Harbor Island.  Soundwaters, also known as The Teaching Vessel of Long Island Sound, is a historic replica of a 17th Century ship, and provides a hands-on, science-infused learning experience on board. Participants can help to raise the sails; haul in a trawl net; and examine the ecology of Long Island Sound.  They can also test the Sound’s water quality along their town’s coastline; demonstrate mechanical advantage; and touch and investigate the structures of live animals, among other activities.

Various village committees and organizations sponsor Clean Up/Green Up Day, including the Committee For the Environment, the Board of Trustees, the Tree Committee, the Parks and Recreation Commission, the Flood Mitigation Advisory Committee and the Harbor Island Park Conservancy. The Marine Educational Center also received $500 of support from Mayor Norman Rosenblum.

Local merchants supporting Clean Up/Green Up Day include: Aqua Vision Scuba, Artuso’s Patries, Boiano’s Bakery, Brewer’s Hardware, Chocolations, Dunkin' Donuts, Mangone’s Nursery, McDonald’s, Murphy Brothers Contracting, Stop & Shop and Trader Joe’s.