Riverside Park Conservancy Begins West Harlem Forest Restoration

On April 6, 2026, Riverside Park Conservancy (RPC) announced an initiative to restore 7.5 acres of forested natural areas in West Harlem, made possible by a $3.25 million grant from Treebed LLC.

Over the next three years, RPC, in partnership with the Natural Areas Conservancy (NAC) and NYC Parks, will restore a section of public parkland between West 143rd and 153rd Streets that has experienced years of environmental stress. By removing fast-growing plant species, clearing trash and debris, stabilizing slopes, and planting new, native trees and shrubs, this holistic restoration will re-establish the forest’s ecological balance, improve climate resilience, and create a healthy, green space for the neighborhood.

The project comes at a pivotal moment for New York City’s urban forest. The city is preparing to release its first Urban Forest Plan, a citywide strategy required by the City Council to help protect, care for, and expand tree canopy toward 30 percent citywide. But a plan alone will not restore aging woodlands or reverse decades of ecological decline. With no dedicated city funding yet in place to implement that vision at scale, public-private partnerships like this one are essential to moving urgent restoration work forward on the ground.

“Restoring urban forests across the city requires both a long-term vision and sustained investment in the natural areas that need it most,” said Oded Holzinger, Executive Director of the Natural Areas Conservancy. “This project in Riverside Park reflects what’s possible when science-based planning meets strong on-the-ground partnership. By applying the findings of our Forest Management Framework and working alongside Riverside Park Conservancy and NYC Parks, we’re not only improving the health and resilience of West Harlem’s forests today, but also building a model for how New York City can care for its natural areas across the five boroughs tomorrow.”

 

“Our tree canopy plays an essential role in keeping our city livable and resilient—it cleans our air, cools our city, collects stormwater, and so much more. As we deal with the effects of rising temperatures, our trees are more vital than ever and serve as essential infrastructure for our communities,” said NYC Parks Commissioner Tricia Shimamura. “This project will address a difficult-to-reach forested area that has been challenging to care for on a regular basis, ensuring that all segments of our urban forest are getting the attention they deserve. We’re grateful to work in partnership with Riverside Park Conservancy and are grateful to Treebed for their generous funding and dedication to this critical work. We also applaud Parks’ Natural Resources Group as well as the Natural Areas Conservancy for their tireless efforts to ensure our city’s urban forest is strong.”

Decades of disinvestment have left the project site in ecological decline. Wedged between the Henry Hudson Parkway, Amtrak rail lines, the North River Wastewater Treatment Plant, and Department of Sanitation operations, this parkland has suffered from its proximity to significant infrastructure. This restoration is designed not only to heal the landscape, but also to reconnect West Harlem residents to a part of Riverside Park that has long been less accessible.

“Treebed is thrilled to support the restoration of the West Harlem forest in Riverside Park,” said Roland Lewis, Fund Manager of Treebed LLC. “This joint project by Riverside Park Conservancy and the Natural Areas Conservancy will uncover and renew a gem in the park. It will not only provide environmental and ecological benefit but will also give back to the residents of West Harlem a piece of Riverside Park that was for too long inaccessible.”

Community engagement is central to the project’s success. Over the past several years, residents and volunteers have already removed truckloads of trash from the site, and that spirit of shared care will continue to shape the restoration. While the bulk of the work will be performed by skilled foresters, RPC will host educational programs and community events that invite neighbors to learn about forest ecology, participate in hands-on stewardship, and help build long-term local connections to the space.

For the past two summers, as part of RPC’s annual Goatham initiative, a team of goats cleared brush in a section of the forest between West 143rd and 145th Streets. The goats ate fast-growing understory plants, including poison ivy, offering a sustainable and chemical-free way to begin clearing the site while also drawing neighbors into the restoration process.

“Public parks thrive when the community feels connected to them,” said Kristen Meade, Director of Volunteer Initiatives at RPC. “We’re excited to welcome volunteers and neighbors into the park and be part of bringing this urban forest to life.”

 

“Investments like this underscore the importance of treating our urban forest as essential infrastructure. For too long, this stretch of Riverside Park in West Harlem has gone underinvested, despite its significance to the surrounding community and to our city’s climate resilience. I am grateful to Riverside Park Conservancy, the Natural Areas Conservancy, NYC Parks, and Treebed LLC for their partnership in restoring these 7.5 acres—bringing cleaner air, cooler streets, and healthier green space to West Harlem. As we work to expand our tree canopy across Manhattan, partnerships like this are critical to delivering meaningful progress for New Yorkers,” said Manhattan Borough President Brad Hoylman-Sigal.

 

“West Harlem residents deserve access to green space that is healthy, well-maintained, and cared for, not neglected. This project will bring cleaner air, new tree canopy, and a revitalized urban forest to a neighborhood that has long shouldered the burden of surrounding infrastructure without seeing the investment it deserves. I look forward to seeing this restoration take shape and for it to be enjoyed by our community,” said NYC Council Majority Leader Shaun Abreu.

Through the partnership between RPC, NAC, and NYC Parks, the project will undertake a comprehensive restoration that controls the spread of fast-growing plant species, improves soil stability, and re-establishes a healthier pattern of forest succession over time. The work will also include a long-term stewardship strategy so that this section of forest receives the ongoing maintenance needed to thrive. The project builds on the Forest Management Framework for New York City, a 25-year strategy developed by NAC and NYC Parks to guide restoration of the city’s urban forest.