Tree pits around 28th & 10th currently being transformed into little urban oases

We wrote a few weeks ago about Itty Island, the mini-garden down on 10th Avenue & 24th Street built for no apparent reason (the best apparent reason) by a group of enterprising Chelsea resident-gardeners. We also mused about similarly transforming some currently abandoned tree pits further up on 10th Avenue. Well I’m happy to report that those prayers were answered, because the New York City Council (legislature of NYC) recently engaged a nonprofit called The Horticultural Society of New York to transform at least three tree pits around 10th Avenue & 27th/28th Street into little oases. Amazing.

We discovered all of this after spotting and talking to Nick—pictured here, watering a block tree pit—who informed us that he was watering on behalf of The Hort (yes that is the organization’s nickname). We emailed The Hort to figure out what exactly their plans are and if we can partner with them going forward. Their Director of Horticulture (Jeremy) wrote promptly back to us, saying that yes indeed they are focused on beautifying forlorn tree pits around our neighborhood and indeed they are happy to coordinate with us. So if you’d like to lend a hand or a green thumb to the beautifying initiative here, please let us know.