(210) Growing a Sustainable Urban Green Space

As trusted voices in the center of our community, land managers at Madison Square Park are working to define sustainable land management practices and engage community members in restoring and supporting urban wildlife. Madison Square Park Conservancy launched an ongoing effort to restore and maintain native habitats in our seven-acre green space by increasing the amount of native plants in the park, reducing the impact of our operations, and encouraging community members to make changes in their daily lives that will benefit the environment. This presentation will explain the strategies our team uses to work both internally and with the community to maintain a healthy park and reintroduce native species to the greater area. We will demonstrate the scalability of this work — proving, with the right information and guidance, any size green space or individual can get involved in restoration projects in a sustainable, affordable and meaningful way.

Learning Objectives:
1. Understand how native plants restore and enhance ecological services.
2. Learn how urban green spaces can be both ecologically rich and aesthetically pleasing.
3. Recognize how your green space can encourage the planting and appreciation of native plants in your communities.