Directions
Below are directions for the Lower East Side Ecology Center's offices in the East River Park Fireboat House, the community compost drop-off locations, and the Gowanus E-waste Warehouse. Please note that visits to the Ecology Center's offices are by appointment only or when events are scheduled at the site. We do not accept drop-offs of electronics or compost at our offices, only at the sites designated for these materials, which are the warehouse and the community compost drop-offs, respectively.
East River Park Fire Boat House (Offices)
(Note: Visits are by appointment only)
By Bike:
From the North: Enter East River Park at the foot of E 10th, E 6th, Houston or Delancey Street. Once you enter East River Park, ride south - you will pass Grand Street and a seal park/spray shower and the last ballfield (Ballfield 1/2) in the park. Behind the seal spray shower, at the height of Grand Street, you will see a two-story red brick building, the Fire Boat House. The building is right next to the East River.
From the South: Enter the Park from the south by biking on the Manhattan GreenWay. Once you enter East River Park, you will pass a parking lot and the ampitheater before reaching the first ballfield. Right after that ballfield you will see the seal spray shower at the height of Grand Street and the Fire Boat House.
By Subway:
Take the F, J, or M to Essex/Delancey stop. When you exit the station, walk east on the south side of Delancey Street (the Williamsburg Bridge will be on your left) until you reach FDR Drive. Take the pedestrian bridge at the foot of Delancey Street to cross the highway. The Fire Boat House will be on your left, just before the big ballfield. The building is a two-story red brick building right next to the East River and there is a seal spray shower park in front.
By Bus:
Take either the M14A or the M22 to last stop, which is on Grand and FDR Drive. At the end of Grand Street, turn right and walk along the service road of the FDR for one block to reach Cherry Street. Cross Cherry Street to enter Corlears Hook Park and walk past the flagpole to the pedestrian bridge across the FDR Drive to enter East River Park. You will see an amphitheater straight ahead, and if you look north you will see the Fire Boat House, a two-story red brick building, right on the East River. Turn left once you enter the park to reach the Fireboat House, which is just behind the ballfield.
By Car:
From North: Take FDR Drive to the Houston Street exit. At the stop sign, go straight to continue south and drive along the service road to reach Delancey Street. Make a right on Delancey Street and find street parking. See walking directions below.
From South: Take FDR Drive to Houston Street exit. At the stop sign, turn left and on second stop sign left again to take the service road heading south to Delancey Street. Make a right on Delancey Street and find street parking. See walking directions below.
Walk the rest of the Way: Go to the south side of Delancey Street to reach the pedestrian bridge across the highway to enter East River Park. Turn right once you enter the park. The Fire Boat House will be on your left, just before the big ballfield. The building is a two-story red brick building right next to the East River and there is a seal spray shower park in front.
Community Compost Drop-Offs
(Note: Households only, NO businesses or other commercial generators may drop off organic waste.
Hours: Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays, and Saturdays
8am-5pm, year-round
The compost stand is located in the northeast corner of the market, along East 17th Street, close to Union Square East/Park Avenue. Union Square is accessible by mass transit using the 4, 5, 6, N, Q, R, or L trains as well as the M14A and M14D buses.
Lower East Side Ecology Center Community Garden
Hours: Sundays, 8am-5pm, year-round
Kitchen Scraps may be dropped off during Garden open hours. Please empty kitchen scraps into the bin near the gate. Do not leave any bags in front of the gate.
Gowanus E-waste Warehouse
Hours: Tuesday 10am-5pm, Wednesday noon-7pm, Thursday 10am-5pm, Friday 10am-5pm, Saturday 10am-4pm
By Subway: Take the R train to Union Street and then walk south to President Street and turn right. The warehouse is at the end of President Street at Nevins. Or take the F train to Carroll Street and walk east towards the Gowanus Canal. Cross the bridge and then turn north on Nevins. The warehouse is one block up on the corner of President and Nevins.
By Car: The warehouse is located at 469 President Street at the corner of Nevins Street. President Street is a one-way street heading west.
From Manhattan via Manhattan Bridge/Flatbush Ave: Continue straight off of the bridge onto Flatbush Ave. Turn right from Flatbush onto Nevins Street (one intersection past Junior's Cheesecake). Follow Nevins Street to Union Street. Turn left on Union. Turn right on 3rd Avenue. Then turn right on President. The warehouse is the last building on the right.
From Staten Island/south Brooklyn via the Gowanus Expressway: Take Exit 21 for 3rd Ave. Merge onto 3rd Avenue. Turn left on President Street. The warehouse is the last building on the right.
From Queens/north Brooklyn via the BQE: Take Exit 29 to merge onto Tillary Street toward the Manhattan Bridge/Bklyn Civic Center. Turn left on Flatbush. Turn right from Flatbush onto Nevins Street (one intersection past Junior's Cheesecake). Follow Nevins Street to Union Street. Turn left on Union. Turn right on 3rd Avenue. Then turn right on President. The warehouse is the last building on the right.