A new holiday tradition sprouts in Greenpoint

Calyer Triangle becomes perfect place for tree lighting

December 15, 2022 Brooklyn Eagle Staff

Summer Kong (center, age 11) performs with others in the Greenpoint Children's Choir. Photos by John McCarten

Share this:

GREENPOINT — What has been termed a “new festive tradition for the neighborhood” brought hundreds of happy families to the Calyer Triangle on Wednesday for live holiday music, a tree lighting ceremony and hot cider with donuts. Also, for this educated and environmentally activist neighborhood, free compost was provided from Big Reuse!.

Katie Denny Horowitz, Executive Director of North Brooklyn Parks Alliance, one of the sponsors of the event, recalls the birth of an idea to have a neighborhood tree lighting, “I immediately thought of Calyer Triangle,” said Horowitz. “We’ve been working with NYC DOT and open streets volunteers to expand the Triangle as a potential public plaza. Placing a tree at this location acts as a welcoming beacon to folks entering Greenpoint from the south.”

“As shown by this event,” she added, “it cheerfully activates an otherwise underutilized space.”

Calyer Triangle is just around the corner from P.S. 31, where a number of students are members of the emerging Greenpoint Children’s Choir. They performed traditional carols at Wednesday’s tree-lighting. Other participating children came from St Stan’s, P.S. 110, and P.S. 34, among other local schools.

Katie Denny Horowitz the Executive Director of North Brooklyn Parks Alliance speaks

Wednesday’s program was made possible by multiple agencies, including NYC Parks and NYC DOT, with generous donations from Chez Ma Tente, Peter Pan Donuts and Domino Park, who donated the 10-foot tree itself.

Support and participation from the neighborhood was enthusiastic and forthcoming. Kevin LaCherra said, “It was so beautiful to be a part of the first public tree lighting in Greenpoint in recent history. The Calyer Triangle is a special place for so many in our neighborhood because it’s a space that we’ve advocated for and created together. Last night was a portrait of what’s best about our neighborhood and we’re looking forward to so many more celebrations and activities in the future.”

“As Greenpoint continues to develop,” said Richard Burgess, “it’s important to keep these small parks, they are rare green spaces that help create a nice pocket of serenity in an otherwise busy area.”

Judge Adam Perlmutter, a neighbor and active participant, said “It was so wonderful attending the tree lighting at Calyer Triangle. The kids, the donuts, the choir. Everything just felt so right. Greenpoint has always been a special place for the holidays. Yesterday’s event and the hard work of the North Brooklyn Park Alliance showed why that’s the case.”

Lifelong Greenpoint resident Nicholas Kaponyas said, “I am always happy to see community events such as this one bringing families together from all throughout the neighborhood such as enjoying the Christmas holiday! I was even more pumped up to be conducting The Greenpoint Children’s Choir that I recently formed with my great friend, Kerri Thompson! There’s nothing like a good combination of treats, good music, hot cider, and the feeling of community to bring everyone from Greenpoint together.”