Central Park

The Daily Plant : Tuesday, August 14, 2001

MADE IN THE SHADE HENRY STREET SETTLEMENT ADOPTS A GREENSTREET

Since 1993, the Henry Street Settlement has sought to care for the living things-human and vegetable-in their neighborhood. In doing so, they have brought New Yorkers closer to one another. Their efforts on behalf of trees began at least last century. Most recently, they've adopted a greenstreet on Montgomery Street between East Broadway and Henry Street. The new site was celebrated at a ribbon cutting ceremony on Monday, August 13, 2001.

Commissioner Henry J. (StarQuest) Stern; Adrian (A-Train) Benepe; Manhattan Borough Commissioner; Bram (Dogwood) Gunther; Deputy Director for Central Forestry; Christine Koenig; Director of Youth Employment for the Henry Street Settlement; Christina (Earth Worm) Datz-Romero; Director of the Lower East Side Ecology Center; and Patricia Goldwater; General Manager of the Seward Park Housing Corporation all spoke at the event.

In 1993 the Henry Street Settlement initiated summer classes to teach young people about the urban environment. In 1995 they expanded the program and undertook collaborations with neighboring organizations all of whom share a vested interest in thriving green spaces. In 1997 with federal funds, they extended their courses to twelve months of the year, and conducted a survey of every tree on the Lower East Side. Based on that work, they adopted 500 trees.

Their efforts are a microcosm of the programs that Parks has instituted on a citywide level. Parks' Teens for Neighborhood Trees courses operate out of the Henry Street Settlement as well as other New York locations. In 1996 Forestry initiated the tree census, recording New York City's 498,000 street trees by species, size, location, and condition. 700 volunteers were rallied to the task, evincing an overwhelming citizen commitment to trees. Since the Greenstreets program began, Forestry has transformed 1,726 traffic islands into gardens, and they are actively recruiting individuals and organizations to partner with their tree teams in caring for the sites.

Given the damage wrought by traffic, concrete, bulldozers, and careless individuals, urban trees need all the help they can get. Thus, the stewardship program. To date, 182 individuals and community organizations have adopted greenstreets and 2,710 have adopted street trees. They've agreed to provide the regular care-material and psychological-that only neighbors can. They will weed, water, and prune, and more-to look for wilting, disease, animal's nests, and to recruit the interest and love of fellow neighbors. Greenstreets crews will visit the sites weekly to offer additional care. This model has proven successful in hundreds of greenstreets and small parks around the city.

Last year, the site that is now the Henry Street Settlement greenstreet was loosely planted with large patches of concrete between the trees. Today those patches are gone and in their place are more trees, shrubs, and an especially ingenious feature: lavender. The flower's strong scent will deter dogs from defecating on the site and thus make it a far more pleasant place for visitors to sit and a healthier space for trees. The greenstreet was designed by Vanessa Irizarry

THIRTEEN YEARS AGO IN THE PLANT
(Tuesday, August 16, 1988)

SUMMERSTAGE TO HOST MULTI-MEDIA WEEKEND

Get out of the house and come to SummerStage at the Central Park Bandshell this weekend for some of the best free, live performances New York City has to offer.

Renowned experimental producer Ping Chong & Company will present their 1986 award-winning comedy "Kind Ness" Friday at 9 p.m. Starting at 3 p.m. on Saturday ex-David Bowie sideman Steven Elson will debut his Lips & Fingers Ensemble, and Irish avant-garde songwriter Pierce Turner will perform his lyrical beat box music. On Sunday, also starting at 3 p.m. the internationally heralded Zimbabwe group Bhundu Boys will offer a rare North American performance of their "Jit" music.

QUOTATION FOR THE DAY

"How to be green? Many people have asked us this important question. It's really very simple and requires no expert knowledge or complex skills.
Here's the answer. Consume less. Share more. Enjoy life."

Penny Kemp (b. 1951) and Derek Wall (b 1965)

Know Before You Go

Harlem Meer Center (formerly Lasker Rink)

Harlem Meer Center