Ways We Celebrated City of Forest Day in Riverside Park! 

Riverside Park Conservancy was happy to host two events for this year’s City of Forest Day! Launched in 2022, this citywide celebration brings New Yorkers together for more than 150 activities celebrating and raising awareness about the importance of NYC’s urban forest.

The Conservancy is a member of both coalitions that organize this celebratory event: Forest for All and Parks and Open Space Partners. This year, the Conservancy held events to celebrate the magnificent tree canopy at Hippo Playground and our holistic forest restoration in West Harlem.

Hippo Playground Tree Journal

Nestled on 91st Street down the hill from Riverside Drive, Hippo Playground is surrounded by towering oaks and vibrant eastern redbuds. These trees provide shade to park goers and acorns, nectar, and habitat for squirrels, birds and pollinators (it’s also a preferred site for hungry red-tailed hawks!). Learning how to identify these trees fosters a greater appreciation for the diversity of tree species in Riverside Park.

This event was hosted in partnership with Councilmember Gail Brewer’s Office to discuss tree stewardship volunteer opportunities in Riverside Park. Our teams spoke with community members about NYC’s first Urban Forest Plan, which proposes an ambitious goal to expand the city’s tree canopy by 30% by 2040.

Four stations were set up for event attendees:  

• an overview of the restoration project with the Conservancy’s Director of Sustainability and North Park Outreach Coordinator;  
• a tree and plant ID walk inside the forest with the Conservancy’s Director of Horticulture and lead gardener; 
• a guided tour led by restoration practitioners from NAC; and  
• a partners table hosted by representatives from NYC Bird Alliance and WE ACT who discussed how the restoration benefits migratory birds and climate resilience, respectively.

  
  Attendees received a whimsical stamp after visiting each station. Together, the stations illustrated why forest restorations are critical for preserving our native, mature canopy trees and create conditions for a healthy and ecologically beneficial next generation of trees.