Capital Projects

Capital Projects’ approach toward sustainable green practices is premised on the principle that good stewardship of what has been here for 150 years is ultimately the most significant contribution we can make. Within the context of preserving an historic designed landscape, effective planning and design and responsible construction practices help to ensure the Park is healthy and more efficiently maintained. Examples include:

• A fundamental aspect of much of our restoration work is simply ensuring—through effective turf restoration, planting, and pruning to allow sunlight to permeate tree canopies—that the landscapes are green. A consistently vegetated ground plane represents the single most significant contribution the Park can make in terms of storm water management and moderating the temperature effects of the urban heat island.
• Though less directly visible than landscape improvements, reconstruction of park infrastructure to function more efficiently and effectively comprises a significant portion of our capital work in the Park. Improvements to provide more efficient drainage and irrigation infrastructure contribute to healthier, more sustainable landscapes.
• Our approach to planting design, which includes removal of invasive species and emphasis on a diverse balance of native species in new landscape and aquatic plantings, helps to establish healthier, more sustainable woodlands and water bodies and improved wildlife habitat.
• In renovating and reconstructing facilities, we look for new and creative ways to conserve resources and provide for more efficient facilities.  For example, in our most recent playground designs, we have begun to introduce user-operated water features, which help to conserve water. We are also introducing a new safety surface material that is free-draining (so storm water can percolate through to the landscape), and reduces surface temperature as compared with rubber-safety surfacing, which requires that the subsurface be paved.

Horticulture

• 100% of Central Park’s organic waste including logs, branches, shrubbery clippings, and leaf litter is recycled by the Conservancy to produce top quality compost and mulch.
• Over 3,000 cubic yards of leaves are turned into compost annually, and 5,000 cubic yards of wood mulch is generated from tree and shrub clippings each year.
• The Conservancy’s organic waste recycling efforts began in 1987 (six years before the State of New York Department of Environmental Protection mandated that "yard waste" originated on parkland be recycled)
• Non-toxic pest and disease control and integrated pest management plan (such as scouting)
• Lawns provide oxygen, absorb carbon dioxide, and have a cooling effect on the environment.  The Park’s lawns are constantly rotated and renovated on an annual basis to provide turf cover throughout the Park, using organic matter from our composting site.
• Heckscher, the Great Hill, the Great Lawn, Conservatory Garden, Sheep Meadow, East Green, and Columbus Circle are organically managed (35 acres of lawns)
• Lawns are aerated and top dressed routinely to promote plant health
• Grass seed is selected for durability, heartiness, and best possible performance.
• Wood mulch is spread underneath the tree canopy to promote tree health.
• Automated irrigation practices promote deep root growth (to protect plants against drought) and conserve water
• Mow lawn grass 3" to protect plant crown and control weeds
• Focus on planting native species
• Soil, Water, and Ecology Laboratory promotes aquatic animal and plant diversity.  Sustain the Park’s fragile aquatic habitats with water quality testing monitoring oxygen levels, temperature, and nutrient supply- and recommend preventative or corrective action.  The Lab scientist and technicians also determine soil specifications (pH levels, aeration requirements, drainage properties, etc.) for all of the varied surfacing materials in Central Park.  Environmental benefits include: reduces or eliminates the need for chemical fertilizers; suppresses plant diseases and pests; promotes absorption of carbon and air-borne pollutants.
• Enhancing the Park's wildlife corridors by replacing underutilized lawns and buffer zones with native trees, shrubs, perennials, and groundcover. Native species are much more adaptable to their native surrounding and natural conditions, making them easier to care for and essentially maintenance-free. The leaves, flowers, seeds, and fruit of these plants will provide shelter and food for birds, bugs, and other wildlife. In 2007, the Christmas Bird count found 61 species of birds in Central Park, a testament to promoting biodiversity.
• Ecological restoration of Hallett Nature Sanctuary, a 3.5-acre preserve in Central Park.
• There are 24,131 trees in Central Park (larger than 6 inches in diameter).  New trees are continuously planted in the Park.  Routine pruning of dead and diseased limbs improves tree health and vigor while preventing decay.
• Trees improve the quality of our air and water; reduce storm water runoff, flooding and erosion; lower summer air temperatures.  Visit http://www.milliontreesnyc.org/ to learn more about New York City’s urban forest.
• 2008 Tree Inventory created a comprehensive database of trees with an interactive map and detailed tree maintenance records.  Data was collected using standard ISA parameters and be submitted in a digital format. Benefits of the inventory include: species composition, distribution & diversity, approximate tree age assessment, assessing pruning needs, track Dutch Elm Disease, identified new planting opportunities.

Park Operations

• Introduced hybrids and GEMs into our fleet, with the mandate that any new vehicle purchased by a hybrid (when available)
• Eliminated all backpack and handheld leaf blowers
• 4 cycle engines on new, small-power equipment
• Use handsaws (instead of chainsaws) when pruning trees.  Handsaws are free of emissions, safer, and cause less noise disturbance to wildlife.
• Recycled toilet paper and green seal certified cleaning products in all comfort stations.  Hand dryers in comfort stations instead of paper towels. 
• Recycle motor oil and batteries as well as range fence, tires, plant containers, steel
• Expanded recycling of consumer waste: In addition to the Great Lawn, where we started collecting plastic bottles and cans in 2007, we’ve added blue recycling bins around Heckscher and North Meadow Ballfields.
• Eliminated toxic salt use (in favor of sand) at Strawberry Fields, Bethesda Terrace, Bow Bridge, Reservoir Bridges 24, 27, 28, Pinebank Arch, Ramble, North Woods, Shakespeare, Naturalist Walk, Great Lawn Oval, Rhody Mile, the Pool, the Pond, Hearnshead, Great Hill, Pinetum, and Turtle Pond.

Programming & Outreach

• Extensive education programs for students and teachers.  Here are a sampling:
• The Soil, Water, and Ecology Laboratory hosts "The Dirt on Dirt," earth science class to grades 2 - 5. Please call our registrar at 212-360-1470 to book a class.
• "Keeping it Green teaches environmental principles to K - 12th grade classes. 
• ROOTS (Restoration of the Outdoors Organized by Teen Students) Teens remove invasive plants, plant native plants, and construct a rustic trail for future tours in the park’s Hallett Nature Sanctuary.
• Earth Day the Conservancy hosts an educational and entertaining, free, family event on April 20 with a focus on planting and mulching projects, environmental education, and crafts with recycled materials
• Volunteers
• Individual volunteers work closely with a Conservancy zone gardener to meet horticultural and maintenance needs of Central Park on weekdays. Weekend volunteers form a "green team" to complete large-scale horticultural and maintenance projects.
• Corporate and not-for-profit groups participate in "A Day in the Dirt." Projects include raking leaves, spreading mulch, planting, and other horticultural tasks.
• Community outreach: The Conservancy works with a Woodland Committee (birders) and PAWS Committee (dogs) to protect delicate landscapes and educate all Park users
• Urban Horticulture & Ecology Training Program (in partnership with Cornell University) teaches sustainable practices to gardeners from across New York.

Administration

• 100% recycled copier paper
• Recycled paper for all invitations and publications
• Recycle electronic equipment