Just breathe: A walking tour to see how the air quality varies around the neighborhood

Some community members recently installed real-time air-quality monitors in and around East River Park. (You can check them any time here.) 

Via the EVG inbox:

Funded by donations to LES Breathe, a committee of the nonprofit East River Park Action, these PurpleAir sensors provide a color-coded score from 1 (best) to 500, based on EPA standards and the current PM2.5 (a mix of chemical particles small enough to inhale). 

With all the concerns about air quality (including recent wildfire haze days when readings soared to 165), this data is reliable and will help local residents know when to protect themselves, close windows, turn on filters, and advocate for clearer air.

This link has a lot more details about this campaign... as the group continues to speak out against the city's current plan to demolish East River Park and cut down 1,000 trees to protect the Lower East Side and surrounding neighborhoods from a 100-year-flood event and sea-level rise. 

Tomorrow, members of LES Breathe are hosting a walking tour to see how the air quality varies around the neighborhood and East River Park using portable sensors. 

Details: Saturday, July 31 at Grace Space, 182 Avenue C at 11th Street. Gather at 10:30 a.m., parade at 11:30, a data performance by NY Alive at noon in Tompkins Square Park, and at 1 p.m., the 90-minute Walking on Air tour will leave from (and return to) Grace Space. 

RSVP here.