Free Public Paddling

group learning to canoe

No matter where you live, NBCB is your community boathouse!

The Public Paddle Series lets us do what we do best: fulfill our mission to enable access to the waterways of New York City for our local community.

Our Public Paddles occur during our regular season (June-Sept), and happen twice a month, alternating between our 29-foot Langley canoes, and our fleet of sit-on-top kayaks. Trained ACA trip leaders will guide participants down Newtown Creek, and often out toward the East River. There’s an opportunity to pause to take photos, and enjoy the views of Manhattan, Brooklyn and Queens. These trips run between 20-30 minutes throughout the day.

Paddling is free! Our public paddles are child friendly, but there is a minimum height requirement of 4'10" on kayak trips in order to ensure the boat will remain balanced.

Canoe Public Paddles take place at Manhattan Avenue Street End Park, while Kayak Public Paddles take place across the creek at Queens Landing Boathouse and Environmental Center.

It is recommended to check the NBCB website and social media accounts in the morning in case of an inclement weather cancelation.

Public paddles are free and open to everyone. We welcome all our neighbors and members of other community organizations. Together, let’s learn more about Greenpoint’s history, environmental challenges and successes, and residents. Get out on the water and see the neighborhood as you never have before!

Got it? We can’t wait to see you! Blue skies, full boats–can’t lose!

NBCB sincerely thanks the Greenpoint Community Environment Fund and the Office of the New York State Attorney General and the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation for financial support for our Public Paddle series.

2024 Schedule:

KAYAKING

Located at:

Queens Landing Boathouse and Environmental Center

57-28 2nd St, Long Island City, NY 11101

  • June 8th, 11am-3pm (June 9 rain out day)

  • July 13th, 11am-3pm (City of Water Day Edition)

  • Aug 17th, 11am-3pm (Aug 18 rain out day)

  • Sept 14th, 11am-3pm (Sept 15 rain out day)

Canoeing

Located at:

Manhattan Avenue Street End Park, Greenpoint, Brooklyn

  • May 25th, 12-4pm (Opening Day / Memorial Day weekend)

  • Juneteenth Paddle (Date TBD)

  • July 13th, 12-4pm (City of Water Day Edition)