PLAYGROUND IMPROVEMENT PROJECT REVITALIZES PARK

Seward Park is looking its very best, just in time for summer!

Last month, The New York Junior League completed their 30th Annual Playground Improvement Project, which focused on revitalizing Seward Park and nine other neighborhood green spaces. The project officially concluded with a ribbon cutting ceremony on Sunday, June 12. Representatives from the NYJL, NYC Parks, and Seward Park Conservancy were joined by volunteers and community members to celebrate the many improvements and thank volunteers for all their hard work. 

The project took place over six weekends throughout April and May and was completed by over 450 NYJL members, as well as many community and corporate volunteers. Benches were scraped and repainted, and trash was collected and disposed of. Weeds and invasive species, especially the difficult lesser celandine, were pulled from the park’s gardens beds, clearing the way for many new plants to be put in. The historic Schiff Fountain was drained, cleared of trash, and beautified by being filled with soil and flowering plants.

A very special part of the project took place on April 30th. NYJL members and volunteers were joined by NYC Parks representatives and Congresswoman Carolyn Maloney to plant a tree in honor of Michelle Go, a ten-year member of the NYJL who was tragically killed on a subway platform in January. This beautiful crepe myrtle tree is a meaningful addition to Seward Park, and we look forward to nurturing it in the years to come as much as we look forward to its colorful blossoms.

The Playground Improvement Project not only improved many of our neighborhood’s outdoor areas, but also highlighted the importance of investing in green and accessible community spaces. We are so appreciative and would like to thank the NYJL, NYC Parks, and every single volunteer for their hard work and support!

POLLINATOR PLANT OF THE MONTH

The Seward Park pollinator place is filled with a variety of colorful plants, but these yellow beauties tower above the rest! Heliopsis helianthoides, commonly known as Oxeyes or False Sunflowers, bloom throughout the summer and can grow up to six feet tall. Oxeyes attract a very specific pollinator — Holcopasites heliopis, or ground nesting bees. Ground nesting bees are a type of specialist pollinator, which means they only gather pollen from one or two plant species. Having Oxeyes in our pollinator place ensures a safe home for these bees, as well as many other critters — the Oxeye’s nectar attracts butterflies, its seeds are a food source for birds, and its stem provides ground cover for many beneficial insects!

COMING UP IN THE PARK

Join Henry Street Settlement's Queer Walking Tour on July 9. Photo via Henry Street Settlement.

AROUND THE NEIGHBORHOOD

Friends of Corlears Hook Park is hosting free yoga classes in the park. Classes are taught by Anita Haravon and open to all ages and experience levels. Thursdays July 7 and July 14, 6:30pm. 

Henry Street Settlement’s famous Queer History Walking Tour of the Lower East Side returns this month to explore the history of queer communities in the neighborhood. Saturday July 9, 11:00am. 

Summer Fun Saturday, hosted by Henry Street Settlement, will bring fun and entertainment for the whole family to Little Flower Park. Activities include magic shows, face painting, carnival games, and African drum performances. Saturday July 9, 12:00pm - 4:00pm. 

The Museum at Eldridge Street is hosting an Arts & Learning event on stained glass. Learn about the synagogue’s famous stained glass windows while creating a colorful collage craft. Ages 5+. Saturday July 17, 10:30am.

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