Update on NYC Parks’ East Side Coastal Resiliency tree planting and related work.
Much appreciation for all the work:
From: Maecker, Grace (Parks)
Date: Fri, May 9, 2025, 12:06?PM
Subject: NYC Parks ESCR Greening Task Force Update
Good afternoon all,
I hope everyone is well and enjoying this long-awaited Spring. I am writing to provide an update on NYC Parks’ East Side Coastal Resiliency tree planting and related work.
As you all know, we began planting trees for ESCR in the Fall of 2019, with a goal of planting 1,000 trees within community boards 103 and 106. We are proud to say that we have surpassed that goal, with 1,781 tees planted to date. We ensured that every viable planting space within community boards 103 and 106 was planted by the end of 2024. In addition to planting trees, we installed structural soil around a few of those newly planted trees, expanded tree beds around mature trees, and installed tree guards at many of these locations as well.
What we have accomplished:
- 1,781 trees planted
- 37 structural soil sites around newly planted trees
- 48 tree beds expanded around mature trees
- 925 tree guards installed
The attached maps display all of the trees in CBs 103 and 106, highlighting those that were planted by NYC Parks as part of ESCR (in green). The attached excel lists the work mentioned above.
We are so grateful for all of the input and support the Greening Task Force has provided over the years. While we are officially finished planting under dedicated ESCR contracts, the remaining ESCR tree planting funds have been placed into our planned standard Capital tree planting contracts. At the conclusion of the last dedicated ESCR contract, CBs 103 & 106 are considered fully stocked and therefore future plantings will be take place across eastern Manhattan. We will continue planting across the entire city under our Neighborhood Tree Planting program, where new street trees are planted on a cyclical basis—prioritizing the most heat-vulnerable neighborhoods first. The cycle maps, and more info on the block planting cycles can be found here. https://www.nycgovparks.org/trees/street-tree-planting/neighborhood-tree-planting-program
Some options for other ways to get trees planted are 1) to make a tax-deductible donation to the NY Tree Time to have the work done through that program https://www.nycgovparks.org/trees/tree-care/nyc-parks-tree-time (email: TreeTime@parks.nyc.gov phone: (718) 361-8101), or 2) to apply for a permit to plant a tree https://www.nycgovparks.org/trees/street-tree-planting/permit-directions
Moving forward, NYC Parks and Recreation’s Natural Resources – Capital Design & Construction team will be installing green infrastructure within CBs 103 and 106. You can expect an update from their team this Spring.
All the best,
Grace Maecker (she/her)
Senior Forester, Queens Street Tree Planting
Environment and Planning, Tree Planting
