Aug. 30, 2023 By Ethan Marshall
Alley Pond Park will be hosting the second annual Estuary Day celebration on Sept. 30. The event, scheduled to run from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. will again come thanks in large part to the NYC Parks Department and Friends of Alley Pond Park.
Photo courtesy of Wing Kong
There will be a large variety of programs and activities available during this year’s Estuary Day celebration. This includes canoeing with the Urban Park Rangers, games, a presentation of animals at the Alley Pond Environmental Center and the programs they offer, nature tours of Oakland Lake and the wildflower meadow, an introduction to birding, the use of iNaturalist to record observations and presentations by environmental and park groups and other government agencies to support educational efforts for wetlands and the Alley Creek.
Whitestone resident and artist Wing Kong will be providing attendees young and old with the opportunity to take part in environmentally-themed art projects. She and other local artists will also be presenting the community art mural that they spent several months working on.
Photo courtesy of Wing Kong
Kong has been an environmental educator for nearly eight years, teaching Queens elementary school students on the subject. When the COVID-19 pandemic put classes on hold, she used the time as an opportunity to expand her influence beyond the school community, becoming a community artist.
Photo courtesy of Wing Kong
“My art is mainly focused on wildlife and environment,” Kong said. “I utilize the garbage and trash that I find in the area and make it into art. I also get the community to create the art together with me.”
Photo courtesy of Wing Kong
Having participated in the inaugural Estuary Day celebration, Kong spoke highly of the experience. She emphasized being able to meet and interact with other Queens residents on the subject of the environment. According to Kong, it’s also important to get the children more exposed to this topic.
“When I do events in the park, I’m able to engage with people from different backgrounds and ages,” Kong said. “That interaction is so important because they will ask questions and see my art in person. The involvement really sparks the importance of this type of event.”
Photo courtesy of Wing Kong
In addition to taking part in an artist talk/mural viewing alongside the other artists who worked on the mural at 10:30 a.m., Kong will be holding a seminar discussing native trees in the area and teaching tree identification from 11 to 11:30. She will also have a station educating people on the invasive spotted-lanternflies. From noon to 2 p.m., Kong will be showing participants of the native tree seminar how to create wearable art out of natural materials from these trees. There will also be temporary tattoos, games and giveaways available for participants.
Tickets can be reserved for free at eventbrite.com to take part in the Kong’s artist talk and tree seminar for Estuary Day. “There will be activities for every age group to enjoy [at the Estuary Day celebration],” Kong said.