Riverside Park Conservancy will host its first-ever Compost-a-palooza on Saturday, October 11, 2025. A celebration of compost, community and the crucial role healthy soil plays in urban environments like New York City, the festival will feature interactive demonstrations, hands-on science experiments, giveaways, and live music from Bash the Trash, an eco-performance band with musical instruments made from reused and repurposed materials.
The event will take place at the 95th Street Compost Compound, located in Riverside Park, adjacent to the Hudson River Greenway. Opened in 2023, this site is the first large-scale composting operation within a NYC Park. Over the past two years, all of the Park’s landscape waste, including leaves, clippings, and other plant material, has been converted into nutrient-rich compost onsite via a closed-loop cycle that prevents tons of organic debris from accumulating in landfills.
The festival will also feature many of the Conservancy’s partners in composting and environmental advocacy, including Lower East Side Ecology Center, Brother Sister Sol, Earth Matter, Maggie’s Garden, Food and Climate Consulting, and Hudson Valley Skincare. Each organization will showcase its unique contributions to building a more resilient and sustainable New York with interactive demonstrations and educational activities. Refreshments will be available for purchase from local park vendor Rosie’s Bites.
“Composting is a key to sustainable park operations, and Riverside Park Conservancy is proud to lead the charge in creating a greener New York,” said Merritt Birnbaum, President & CEO of Riverside Park Conservancy. “We’re thrilled to gather with both ‘compost nerds’ and ‘compost newbies’ to share the joy of healthy soil! The goal of Compost-a-palooza is to engage parkgoers of all ages in the fun and rewards that can come from nurturing our city’s green spaces.”
In addition to compost, attendees will get a chance to explore some of the Conservancy’s latest alternative energy innovations with an insider tour of the new grid-independent, solar-powered Riverside Info Center, and a close-up look at the park’s electric utility vehicles at the “Meet the Fleet” station. And everyone is encouraged to get their hands dirty and contribute to the Park’s compost operations by assisting in a compost sifting project!
“Compostapalooza is about more than compost—it’s about celebrating the partnerships and people who make sustainability possible,” said NYC Parks Borough Commissioner Tricia Shimamura. “By working together with Riverside Park Conservancy and community organizations, we’re showing New Yorkers how healthy soil supports healthy parks, and how small actions can add up to a more resilient city for everyone.”
“As pioneers of urban park composting, the Riverside Park Conservancy has once again demonstrated their commitment to resiliency and a greener New York with Compostapalooza,” said Manhattan Borough President Mark Levine. “The Festival will be a day of hands-on fun and environmental entertainment for New Yorkers of all ages.”
As New Yorkers gather for Compost-a-palooza, the City is also scaling this work: in November 2024 the City Council unanimously passed legislation introduced by Council Member Gale Brewer—now Local Law 118—modeled on Riverside Park Conservancy’s 95th Street Compost Compound, that requires NYC Parks to establish on-site facilities to compost plant waste in parks across all five boroughs. The law phases in at least two parks per borough by July 1, 2026; three per borough by July 1, 2027; and five per borough by July 1, 2028.
“Riverside Park Conservancy has shown what’s possible when community, sustainability, and innovation come together. Compostapalooza is a chance for New Yorkers to get their hands dirty, see the science in action, and celebrate how healthy soil makes for healthier parks, neighborhoods, and people,” said NYC Councilmember Gale Brewer. “Composting is not only about turning leaves and clippings into rich soil — it’s about keeping thousands of cubic yards of waste out of landfills, reducing methane emissions, and creating green jobs. I’m thrilled that the Upper West Side is leading the way in making New York a greener, more resilient city.”
“Composting is one of the simplest and most effective ways to take climate action right in our own neighborhoods. I’ve fought to restore and expand composting services citywide because healthy soil is important for healthy communities and a greener future. Thanks to partners like Riverside Park Conservancy, the compost we create in our homes is transformed into rich, living soil that helps our parks thrive and makes our neighborhoods great places to live,” said NYC Councilmember Shau Abreu. “Compostapalooza will be a fun celebration of impact and an opportunity for the community to learn more about how they can make a difference at home.”
Event Details
Date: Saturday, October 11th
Time: 11:00 AM – 1:00 PM
Location: 95th Street Compost Compound in Riverside Park, accessible from the Hudson River Greenway
Free and open to all ages