NYC Council Votes Unanimously to end synthetic pesticide use in parks and playgrounds

Source: Grassroots Environmental Education: 
(New York City) A coalition of non-profit organizations and individuals has persuaded the New York City Council to pass a new law prohibiting the use of all toxic chemical pesticides in New York City parks. The coalition, led by Grassroots Environmental Education, Beyond Pesticides and The Black Institute, and joined by citizen activists for pesticide reform and environmental justice, claimed victory at a rally in New York this morning, just before the City Council voted unanimously to adopt the new law. 

"This year's theme for Earth Day is 'Restore our Earth,' and New York City is doing it's part by getting rid of chemical pesticides in all of the city's 1700 parks," said Grassroots' Executive Director Patti Wood, who personally lobbied more than 35 members of the City Council on behalf of the bill. "This is a big win for the people of New York, and we hope other cities will follow suit." 

In 2010, Grassroots was instrumental in helping to pass state-wide legislation in New York to prohibit the use of pesticides on all school playing fields and grounds for grades K-12 including day care centers. The organization was subsequently contracted by the NYS Department of Environmental Conservation to train facilities directors across the state in the science of natural lawn care. To date, the law remains the strongest one of its kind in the country. 

"We always felt that the children of New York City didn't really benefit from the NY State school pesticide  law, because in most cases, they play in the City's parks," says Patti. "With this new law, those kids will be protected from exposure to toxic chemicals that could seriously impact their health, just like the rest of the kids in this state."

For more information about pesticides and their potential impact on the health of children and everyone else, please visit our website, Grassrootsinfo.org.