“From coastal resiliency and sustainable green practices to the preservation of affordable housing, world-class public art, and vibrant, year-round programming in award-winning public spaces, Battery Park City leads the way in many of the measures that makes cities livable."
BPC Parks Happenings is a monthly “snapshot” of the Authority’s work in maintaining Battery Park City’s parks and public spaces. Scroll down to see what’s on tap for December.
– Community Matters: Preparations are underway for our annual Holiday Lights Celebration on Thursday, December 7 at 6PM at Rockefeller Park. Celebrate the first night of Hanukkah with lighting of the Battery Park City Menorah and the illumination of BPC’s Holiday Tree. The festive evening will feature lively carols, beverages and treats, and special guest appearances including Sam Primack from Broadway’s Dear Evan Hansen, and a visit from you-know-who!
– Rat Race: Scouting is underway of rat burrow locations for our next series of dry ice applications this month. Dry ice is a more environmentally-friendly form of rat control that does not impact non-target organisms like birds or squirrels. Read more about BPCA’s efforts here.
– Leafing Life: Fall leaf pickup and shredding continues for use as mulch to supply much-needed organic matter for garden beds across the neighborhood.
– Paver Priorities: Our Parks Operations team Staff is completing repair and replacement of damaged pavers along the BPC Esplanade.
– Tree Maintenance: Parks Operations staff will be conducting regularly-scheduled pruning of our street tree canopies, pruning branches away from buildings, and pruning for overall tree health and safety. If you have comments or requests about specific branches, contact info.bpc@bpca.ny.gov. Staff will also be removing an unhealthy Gingko tree from along the North Esplanade near Stuyvesant High School, to be replaced in a coming planting season.
– Tree Recycling: BPCA’s annual tree recycling program is coming up! Simply place your unadorned tree curbside beginning Tuesday, December 26 through Wednesday, January 31 for pickup – no stands, lights, ornaments, or tinsel, please – and we’ll take care of the rest. All trees collected will be composted and applied back into Battery Park City’s gardens. Since 2016, more than 13,000 trees have been chipped for re-use across the neighborhood.
– Watching our Waste: Our Parks Operations team will also be conducting a waste audit of park trash along the BPC’s north and south Esplanade this month. The results of audits like these and insights from BPCA’s Zero Waste Advisory Committee help inform the strategy for educating Authority staff and the broader BPC community so that all can play a role in achieving Battery Park City’s Zero Waste goals.
– Our Path To Zero! As a decades-long leader in sustainability, BPCA is striving to divert 90% of what is sent to landfill! To continue helping toward our Zero Waste goal, we ask that you rethink what you throw away in the parks, and please recycle or compost items. Look for our new Recycling sticker signage on recycling cans throughout Battery Park City.
