NEW YORK—Chinatown saw the fruits of the city’s One Million Trees campaign Tuesday—or rather they will see the fruits after the blossoms fall and the cherries ripen on trees that were recently planted along the Bowery.
Mayor Bloomberg’s office provided 37 trees, 17 of which were cherry trees to add to the 27 cherry trees already along the vibrant cultural stretch. More will be planted in the spring amidst the full splendor of powder pink blossoms.
“You don’t have to go to Washington to see the cherry blossoms,” exclaimed president of the Confucius Plaza Board Justin Yu. He extended an invitation to all to attend what will be Chinatown’s first cherry blossom festival in the spring of 2011. Food, dancing, and music will be enjoyed by tourists who often flock to the area already and locals alike.
“We haven’t done enough for this community in the past,” said state Sen. Daniel Squadron as he gathered with members of the community in Confucius Plaza on Bowery Street. Squadron says the gift of trees is part of a promise to take care of a community that is too often forgotten by the city.
After local residents raised concerns about pedestrian safety on the Bowery, especially for the aging population, a median was built in front of Confucius Plaza earlier this year. The median was built with space for planting trees, which Sen. Squadron says led to the natural consideration of how to fill this space.
Wellington Chen, executive director of Chinatown Partnership summed it up nicely with a famous Chinese proverb:
“The people before us plant trees. The people after us will enjoy the shade.”
Mayor Bloomberg’s office provided 37 trees, 17 of which were cherry trees to add to the 27 cherry trees already along the vibrant cultural stretch. More will be planted in the spring amidst the full splendor of powder pink blossoms.
“You don’t have to go to Washington to see the cherry blossoms,” exclaimed president of the Confucius Plaza Board Justin Yu. He extended an invitation to all to attend what will be Chinatown’s first cherry blossom festival in the spring of 2011. Food, dancing, and music will be enjoyed by tourists who often flock to the area already and locals alike.
“We haven’t done enough for this community in the past,” said state Sen. Daniel Squadron as he gathered with members of the community in Confucius Plaza on Bowery Street. Squadron says the gift of trees is part of a promise to take care of a community that is too often forgotten by the city.
After local residents raised concerns about pedestrian safety on the Bowery, especially for the aging population, a median was built in front of Confucius Plaza earlier this year. The median was built with space for planting trees, which Sen. Squadron says led to the natural consideration of how to fill this space.
Wellington Chen, executive director of Chinatown Partnership summed it up nicely with a famous Chinese proverb:
“The people before us plant trees. The people after us will enjoy the shade.”
