Hot Box Composting

About the Series:

Join Riverside Park Conservancy’s Sustainability Team for four lectures led by local activists, environmentalists, educators, and composters. All events are free and open to the public and will include time for a Q&A and discussion. Stay tuned on social media and/or sign up for our mailing list at riversideparknyc.org for dates and details. 

About the Event:

Join Nando Rodriguez, one of the co-creators of the Hot Box Composting system, to learn about how this innovative method for urban composting came to be – and how his 30+ years of experience in environmental education continues to connect youth in Harlem to the soil hands-on. With a focus in restorative justice, Nando is working to take local composting to another level of community support and push local representatives to deepen participation in NYC.

Discussion and questions are enthusiastically encouraged - bring questions along with you! Light snacks and refreshments will be provided.

Nando Rodriguez was born and raised in the Lower East Side and the Dominican Republic. Raised in a single-parent household, his mother raised 6 children (older sisters helped with the little ones) and he was the youngest. His mother's reasoning to send him away for a portion of his life was her fear of Nando following in the footsteps of his elder brothers, who were caught between the street life of Alphabet City. Nando spent 5 years in Bonao, D.R. He always felt the need to help others, especially his peers who were less fortunate, and in D.R. he would create spaces for his peers to play games, often inviting youth from other communities to join.

Nando eventually returned to NYC and enrolled in East Side Community High School. It was there that he was introduced to Open Road of NY, as well as The Brotherhood Sister Sol. With Open Road of NY, Nando started to connect his purpose on Earth with Mother Earth and began to assist Open Road with the development of the HotBox. Nando also worked on green space designing with participants of these selected communities using the Participatory Designed process and developing or redesigning green spaces for community engagement.

With The Brotherhood Sister Sol, Nando continues to empower youth to become leaders in their communities. Through love, support, resources and guidance, The Brotherhood Sister Sol team is able to create a Rites of Passage experience for all youth to question what's not clear to them and speak up when they feel their voice is not being heard.

Instagram:

The 102nd Street Field House

The Field House is a new indoor venue that we at the Conservancy are excited to share with you! This area of the park is serviced by the m5 bus at 100th Street, as well as the 96th Street 1/2/3 trains.

To access the Field House, enter the park at 99th Street and Riverside Drive (accessible ramp at 97th Street and Riverside Drive), then walk north towards the soccer field and basketball court. The Field House is on the ballfield level at the basketball courts. There will be signage and Conservancy staff to direct you to the location.

Directions from 97th street entrance

1. Take Train to 96th Street Stop
2. Head North to 97th street and make a left towards riverside drive
3. Enter the park at 97th street, there is a ramp and staircase available at this entrance.
4. Once you go down the stairs/ramp, make a right and go north, approximately 4 city blocks, until you reach the fork in the path.
5. At this fork, behind a fence you should see a turf field. Make a left at the fork to head towards that field.
6. Walk along this fence until you see the first opening, enter the field, at the northern end of this field there is a park house. This is the field house!

Directions by car to the 96th Street parking lot

1. Take the Henry Hudson Parkway South until you reach the 96th Street exit.
2. Take this exit and pass Riverside Drive.
3. Drive through the light and go down 95th Street until you get to West End Avenue.
4. Make a left on West End Avenue then make another left at the light to get back on 96th. Street to the highway entrance going north.
5. Stay to your right and take the first exit that says Henry Hudson Parkway south.
6. This exit ramp loops under the highway and begins to go south.
7. Take a right and on this ramp will be the entrance to the free parking lot located at the Red Clay tennis courts.

Directions to Field House from 96th Street parking lot

1. Once parked, exit the lot via the staircase on the north side of the parking lot ( There is also a ramp at the southern part of the lot if needed).
2. Walk along the river - follow the path and stick to the right to go under an overpass into the Park’s interior.
3. Once you reach the fork in the path, keep left.
4. You will see a turf soccer field behind a fence – walk through the entrance.
5. You will see the Field House on the northern edge of the soccer fields.

Event Venue & Nearby Stays

102nd Street Field House, 102nd Street Field House, New York, United States