BROOKLYN, N.Y. – In recognition of community-led sustainable initiatives, Renee McClure, Director of Community and Customer Engagement, National Grid New York, joined New York Senator Kevin Parker, Brooklyn Borough President Antonio Reynoso, and Adrian Benepe, President of Brooklyn Botanic Garden, to announce the winners of the annual Greenest Block in Brooklyn competition.   The contest highlights participants for their exceptional efforts in promoting greener and healthier neighborhood environments.

The Brooklyn Botanic Garden’s Greenest Block in Brooklyn initiative encompasses various award categories, with one of the highlights being the “National Grid Leadership in Sustainable Practices Award,” given by the company as the major sponsor of BBG’s community greening programs. This year, The New East 26^th Street Block Association received recognition among the top five finalists in this category for their pollinator friendly plantings and colorful birdhouses that go up and down the block.

The New East 26^th Street Block Association has engaged in the Greenest Block in Brooklyn Contest for the past several years. Taking home awards in several categories, including:

• 4th Place residential win in 2019,
• 2nd Place Tree Bed win in 2022 and Honorable Mention distinction,
• and a previous National Grid Leadership in Sustainable Practices Award in 2018,

This year’s Greenest Block in Brooklyn Leadership in Sustainable Practices Award winner and the  Residential winner - 300 East 25^th Street Block Association - both emerged from neighboring blocks, fostering a remarkable sense of cross-collaboration and friendly competition in the green spaces arena growing within Flatbush.

The Leadership in Sustainable Practices award is bestowed upon a block or community garden that demonstrates exceptional dedication to ecological practices. Notable practices considered for the award include the use of sub-irrigated planters, rainwater capture systems, innovative “upcycling” of found materials, companion planting, drip irrigation, community composting, as well as gardening initiatives focused on pollinators and conservation.

Since 2013, National Grid has been a dedicated supporter of the Brooklyn Botanic Garden’s Greenest Block in Brooklyn competition, and the company’s commitment to fostering sustainable and equitable communities is evident through its continued sponsorship of the competition.

Speaking to the value of this continued relationship, McClure stated, “National Grid shares in the BBG commitment to inspire our community to envision a greener world, full of innovative ways to transform the neighborhoods that we serve into more beautiful, sustainable, and environmentally equitable spaces, one block at a time.”

About National Grid

National Grid (NYSE: NGG) is an electricity, natural gas, and clean energy delivery company serving more than 20 million people through our networks in New York and Massachusetts. National Grid is focused on building a smarter, stronger, cleaner energy future — transforming our networks with more reliable and resilient energy solutions to meet state climate goals and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.