In May 2025, the Conservancy restored a 90’ x 35’ planting bed in Sakura Park, transforming a neglected piece of broken asphalt into a beautiful native plant garden.
Sakura Park was completed in 1934 and designed by the Olmsted Brothers with construction funded by the Rockefeller family. In the course of research in preparation to repave the Park’s asphalt pathways in Spring 2025, NYC Parks Landscape Architect & Conservancy Chief of Design & Construction, Margaret Bracken, made an exciting discovery. When the Park was last reconstructed in the 1980’s, a portion of the original landscape at the southern end had been paved over to make way for an area of active recreation. The repaving project presented an opportunity to restore this natural feature. The new design restores the layout of the park to the original Olmsted Brothers design while adding additional permeable surface to the landscape.
Riverside Park Conservancy’s Director of Horticulture, Jessica Kaplan, selected a palette of native perennials and shrubs that complement the historic landscape and were installed by Conservancy staff and volunteers. The addition of two linden trees, two new benches and surrounding bluestone edging ensure that this lovingly restored space will be enjoyed for years to come.
This project was made possible with support from International House New York.