To most New Yorkers, the Gowanus Canal conjures up images of pollution, murky waters, and industrial past. But for the volunteers of the Gowanus Dredgers Canoe Club, the canal is something much more: a living waterway full of possibility, life, and community connection.

Formed in 1999, the Dredgers were built on a simple idea – that if people could just find a way to get out on the canal, they’d begin to care about it. “By inviting the public to experience the canal through paddling and recreation, the Dredgers inspire advocacy for its restoration and highlight that people do come into direct contact with the water,” the group explains.

Why Gowanus?

Despite its challenges, the Gowanus Canal has unique advantages: it’s calm, easy to navigate, surprisingly full of life, and unlike many parts of the city, it’s actually accessible. “Even though we’re surrounded by water, it’s difficult for New Yorkers to access our waterfronts safely for recreation. The canal is really easy to get to, and it’s full of life.”

For the Dredgers, success looks like neighbors imagining, and actively building, a future with a cleaner, safer waterway. More recreation, more biodiversity, and more places where people can step into and out of the water safely.

Programs that Connect

If you think the Dredgers are just about canoeing, think again. Their programming is as diverse as the community they serve. Free walk-up paddles, ticketed sunset and moonlight tours, community science days, art shows, bluegrass jams, poetry readings, and educational programs are all part of their mix.

“All of our events are volunteer-led, so anything members dream up, we try to help make happen,” they explain. Families flock to the free paddles, while Wednesday evening bluegrass jams bring a steady crowd. For those on the water, safety is paramount. A combination of CPR-certified volunteers, Coast Guard–inspected canoes, and constant monitoring of weather and water quality keep every experience both fun and secure.

Restoration Through Recreation

From the beginning, the Gowanus Dredgers have tied recreation to advocacy. “Having fun on the water requires paying attention,” they say. Regular paddlers learn how water quality dips after rain, what seasonal king tides look like, and how steel bulkheads can affect habitats.

The group has been deeply involved in environmental restoration projects, from mussel habitat structures to bio-blitzes that document biodiversity. They collaborate with groups like the Gowanus Canal Conservancy, local schools, Public Lab, and birding groups to provide on-water access for research, education, and monitoring.

Progress is visible. The upper canal is cleaner than ever after dredging and capping, oxygen levels improve when the Flushing Tunnel is on, and wildlife is returning. At the same time, challenges remain (particularly around combined sewer overflows and habitat access).

Changing the Narrative

One of the Dredgers’ biggest goals is to shift public perception. “Many people believe that the canal is toxic and lifeless. In truth, it’s full of life! We constantly see blue crabs, eels, pipefish, silversides, mummichogs—even cormorants, egrets, and gulls.”

By inviting people onto the water, they show firsthand that the Gowanus Canal is far from beyond saving, in fact – it’s already a living ecosystem worth protecting.

Community at the Core

Some of the most meaningful collaborations for the Gowanus Dredgers have been with local schools. Local students have done everything from participate in intertidal surveys, help build mussel habitats, and monitor how they perform over time. These hands-on projects create a sense of stewardship for the next generation, teaching them that restoration is not only possible but already underway.

And when the pandemic shut the city down in 2020, the Dredgers turned the canal into a safe outdoor haven. Thousands came to paddle, enjoy live music, and reconnect – proof that even in difficult times, the canal could serve as a cultural and recreational anchor for the neighborhood.

Looking Ahead

The Dredgers dream big. More docks, more access points, and maybe even a “big canoe” to run expanded school programs are all on the wishlist. They’re actively pursuing grants and, as always, looking for more volunteers to join the mission.

Their work shows how recreation and advocacy fuel each other. By sparking joy, curiosity, and connection, the Dredgers create the conditions for long-term environmental change.

Local Life with the Gowanus Dredgers

When they’re not paddling, members head to Principles GI Coffee House for caffeine and Baba’s Pierogi for lunch. Hidden gems? The Carroll Street Bridge, a wooden-plank retractable bridge from 1889 that still carries cars and the imaginations of Dredgers who dream of hosting tap dancers across its deck.

And if you ask what to do with a free day in Gowanus? The answer is simple: “Go canoeing with the Dredgers, of course.”

The Gowanus Dredgers Canoe Club proves that advocacy doesn’t always look like protest signs or policy briefs. Sometimes it looks like paddling a canoe, listening to live bluegrass, or discovering a blue crab beneath the surface.

As they put it: “We aim to inspire the next generation of New Yorkers to become passionate environmental stewards—people who care deeply about their neighborhoods and understand the power of collective action.”

And in Gowanus, that action starts with a paddle.

Our Why Gowanus series shines a spotlight on the people and places that make this neighborhood one of Brooklyn’s most dynamic communities. From local makers and cultural hubs to businesses shaping the area’s future, each story explores why Gowanus isn’t just where they are – it’s part of who they are.