Long before green became “glam,” New York Restoration Project (NYRP) and its Founder, Bette Midler, understood that protecting our planet by promoting environmentally responsible living practices and advancing public policies to support sustainability were essential to our future. When – on Earth Day in 2007 – New York City Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg initiated PlaNYC’s 127-point vision to create a more sustainable New York by the year 2030, it was a long-anticipated affirmation of all that NYRP has been committed to for close to 15 years. PlaNYC and its MillionTreesNYC initiative have not only elevated the level of resources and recognition being directed towards their ambitious goals, they have also helped to bolster NYRP’s long-standing investment in the citizens of New York – further raising awareness that by planting trees, revitalizing open spaces, recycling and much more, New Yorkers throughout the city’s five boroughs will benefit not only from environmental, but also health, social, economic and infrastructure improvements.
In just two short years, MillionTreesNYC has become a citywide movement that continues to engage and energize New York City home and land owners, developers and businesses – encouraging individuals, neighborhood-based organizations, companies, city agencies and others to re-imagine and advocate for a more sustainable city through revitalization and maintenance of its critical tree canopy. NYRP and its members, in partnership with the New York City Parks Department, are not only changing the city’s landscape, but are also changing the mindset of New Yorkers by leading planting efforts for one million trees and helping all to learn to respect and maintain this most precious resource – our urban forest.
In addition, every day NYRP works closely with the New York City Parks Department and other like-minded not-for-profit and community organizations to reclaim, restore and revitalize more than 400 acres of the city’s most needed, yet most neglected, public parks – including partnering on initiatives to implement a large-scale, collaborative planning effort to enhance the future of the Harlem River waterfront. Finally, NYRP also helps make a healthier, more vibrant and more sustainable city a reality through a wide range of initiatives and efforts to revitalize NYRP’s 55 community gardens – including utilizing solar and wind power as an integral component of each garden’s restoration. NYRP’s pioneering efforts to bring rainwater harvesting to all of our gardens is now in its sixth year and NYRP continues to increase green design elements throughout our community gardens, which often serve as showcases for pioneering conservation and sustainability techniques in their surrounding neighborhoods.
In its relatively short history, NYRP has learned that restoring a public space is only the first – and perhaps easiest – step in the long process involved in promoting greening and stewardship within urban communities. To affect and sustain real change, it will take every New Yorker working together for the city’s greater good. While we celebrate the successes of our first 14 years, we know that NYRP’s work is far from done and that it will take the collective strength of all New Yorkers digging in and contributing to effectively change the fabric or our neighborhoods for the better and for future generations.