On October 17, 2010 the inaugural Green City Challenge competition transformed the streets of New York City into a race course. New Yorkers rode bicycles from one green destination to another, competing in challenges that demonstrated their knowledge of recycling, composting, nutrition, sustainability, renewable energy, and much more. This one-of-a-kind event was the launching point of an effort to bring the Green City Challenge concept to all five Boroughs of New York City, to other cities in the US, and to cities all around the world!

The Starting Line and opening ceremony was held at La Plaza Cultural Community Garden in the East Village. Ten teams lined up with their bicycles at the Starting Line and were given a giant jigsaw puzzle piece, the back of which had a clue to the destination of their first challenge. At each destination the teams would face another green challenge and earn another puzzle piece and another clue along with it.

After earning all the pieces of the jigsaw puzzle, the challengers raced to the Finish Line at Solar One, an interactive renewable energy outreach and education center on the East River.

While the Challengers were busy pedaling all over lower Manhattan, an eco-fair at Solar One kept spectators busy. Healthy refreshments and exhibit booths featuring hands-on demonstrations of green products, information about environmental issues and locally grown food created a festive and informative atmosphere for spectators and passers-by alike. The finish line was not only the final destination but a celebration of all that is green. Amid applause and congratulations on all sides, the three winning teams were crowned as the Green City Challenge’s first champions.

Spectators, Challengers and volunteers alike had a great time getting to know each other and learning more about the several green businesses and non-profit organizations that participated in the event. Take a look at more pictures and get to know the very first Green City Challengers on our Challenger’s Page.

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Green City Challenge would like to thank our Platinum Leaf sponsor the Xerox Corporation; our Gold Leaf Sponsor, Viridian Energy; and our Silver Leaf sponsors TekServe, and NYSERDA.

Thank you to all our vendors:

• Chelsea Whole Foods
• Clean Air NY
• Ecofriendly Printer
• Greenpeace
• Green Mountain Energy
• NYC Dept. of Sanitation
• NYSERDA
• Pantheon Wellness
• Riverkeeper
• United For Action
• Viridian Energy
• Vokashi

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Thank you to Nicola Armster who created the GCC 2010 awards, and Brooklyn Mammal who made the jigsaw puzzles.

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Thank you to all our in-kind donors:

• AuH2O Recycled Clothing Store
• Earthbound Farms Earthlust
• Ecofriendly Printer
• NYC Dept. of Transportation
  
• NYSERDA
• Recycle A Bicycle
• Riverkeeper
• Sky in the Pie Productions
• Small Planet Foods
• Travel Chocolate

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Thank you to all the companies and non-profit organizations that hosted the starting line, the finish line or one of the challenges:

• Green Map
• La Plaza Cultural Community Garden
• Integral Yoga Foods
• Lululemon
• Lower East Side Ecology Center
• Solar One
• Sustainable – NYC
• Tompkins Square Greenmarket
• Quixotic Energy Systems

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Last but not least, we wish to thank all our volunteers. Without their dedication, creativity and greatness of spirit, this event would not have been possible.

Green City Challenge is a non-profit organization dedicated to increasing awareness of how to live a healthy, sustainable lifestyle. We promote other non-profit social and environmental organizations who are also bringing green to the mainstream – or bringing the mainstream to green! The Green City Challenge is run solely by volunteers without grants or government assistance. We rely only upon your donations to achieve our goals.

The Green City Challenge is the only one of its kind. Stay tuned to watch us grow! If you couldn’t get into last year’s race, make sure you try again this year! Follow us on Facebook, Meet Up group and Twitter and sign up for our newsletter here.