Today, Bronx Parks Commissioner Iris Rodriguez-Rosa joined Bronx River Administrator and Executive Director of the Bronx River Alliance Linda Cox, the Bronx River Conservation Crew, Apprentices, the Green Applied Projects in Parks (GAPP) Crew, Community Board 12 District Manager George Torres, and 4th graders from the local elementary school P.S. 89 to install the 100,000th plant along the Bronx River at Shoelace Park.
The installation of 100,000 plants includes trees, shrubs and herbaceous plants, all of which are important for a healthy river ecosystem. This count began in 2001 with the founding of the Bronx River Alliance, a public-private partnership with NYC Parks.
"There’s no better way to celebrate putting in the 100,000th plant along the river than being out here with these enthusiastic kids," said Linda R. Cox, Bronx River Administrator for NYC Parks and Executive Director of the Bronx River Alliance. "These young people are learning how to take care of our river and are showing us what environmental stewardship means to the next generation."
George Torres, Community Board 12 District Manager added, "green spaces like the Bronx River corridor are so important for our communities. It’s wonderful to see these communities engaged in the actual process of cleaning and greening this important slice of nature that runs through the Bronx."
Since 2001, the Bronx River Alliance and its Conservation Crew have worked to clean and green the Bronx River corridor, restoring native habitat along the 8-mile length of the river in the Bronx. The Crew includes NYC Parks Department employees working alongside employees of the Bronx River Alliance, representing the tremendous public-private partnership that has been behind the remarkable transformation of the river.
