Greenwich Street Gardens & Promenade

The Greening of Greenwich Street Promenade was built in 2000, and it’s hard to remember what it was like to live with the intimidating width of the old Greenwich Street.  Some of us remember running across the street to avoid the cars as they sped side-by-side down the street, and the lack of any safe crossing points between Chambers Street and Hubert Street.  More safety improvements are still needed, especially at Duane Street, but the change has been dramatic.

Few neighborhoods in the City can boast the generous 50 feet width of our pedestrian promenade.  Parents have a place to help their child learn to ride a bike, anyone can sniff the lilac blooms, find some space away from traffic to sit and read, and to stop and chat with neighbors without being in anyone’s way.

In late 2006 we advanced the idea of continuing the Greenwich Street Promenade southward from Chambers Street.  This would convert the uninviting, pedestrian-hostile section of Greenwich Street just north of Barclay Street into a people-friendly link between our community and the World Trade Center, and would help greatly to welcome the world to our home.

In 2005, we surveyed all of Tribeca’s street trees to record their health, location, size, and species.  It was not a happy situation. The trees were water-deprived, suffering damage, and showing their neglect. To help and add to these 492 street trees, in 2005 we began the Tribeca Street Trees project to help all of Tribeca become a greener place.  To be specific, we established two long term goals:

First: attain a total of 900 street trees (add as many as 408 more) by 2015.

Second: organize the neighborhood to care for each of our street trees.

After starting the project, we were helped by the assist of a matching grant from NYSDEC. We’re well on our way and as of November 2011 we have passed the 750 street tree level – up 258 trees – 52% above our 2005 level.

Better still, we have found and trained tree care givers so that over one half of our street trees have a committed care giver. Many of our trees are now thriving instead of dying! Since 2005 we have quintupled the shaded share of Tribeca from 1.1 acres to 5.8 acres of our sidewalks and streets. That’s the amount of total shade that would be provided by several Washington Market Parks! So we’re all a little cooler, and breathing air that is cleaner.

Looking ahead, we seek to have at least 15 street trees planted each fall and spring, continue to match up trees with care givers, and monitor the trees. By working together, by 2015 we’re seeking to achieve five percent shade (street tree canopy cover) for Tribeca as a whole – over eight times the proportion in 2003 – over 10 Washington Market Park sized areas!