NYRP’s Garden for the City Program Transforms PS/IS 102Q’s Landscape

ELMHURST, NY, October 25, 2024 - The PS/IS 102Q Parent Association (Q102PA) applied for the NewYork Restoration Project’s (NYRP) Gardens for the City Program to revitalize PS/IS 102Q’s green space. Earlier this month, groundwork began for this restoration, coinciding with the school’s 102nd anniversary. Members of the parent association, alongside NYRP staff and Delta Airlines volunteers, joined forces to establish a new garden for the school.

“Gardens for the City (GFTC) program’s mission is to work with community partners to create and provide gardens and other green spaces to low-income and/or underserved communities throughout New York City that will contribute to the environmental well-being of these communities and those who live there.”

Jason Sheets, Director of Garden Horticulture and Citywide Greening Projects, collaborated with the parent association's executive board and school administration to define the project's scope. This included removing several dead trees and shrubs, assembling raised metal planting beds, constructing a gazebo for shade, installing seating such as picnic tables and benches, and planting ornamental shrubs, bulbs, and perennials, as well as applying mulch.

In celebration of the school’s 102nd birthday, the parent association invited parents and guardians to plant 102 bulbs, anticipating a vibrant display of purple and gold flowers in the spring to symbolize school spirit. NYRP provided a quick demonstration and tools, along with a generous donation of the bulbs.

The project will continue with a visit from Corey Blant, Director of Urban Agriculture, and Genevieve Harding, Urban Agriculture Manager, to introduce the urban agriculture curriculum to 8th grade classes in mid-November. The NYRP Urban Ag Program offers a year of intensive support post-build, featuring monthly hands-on workshops on topics such as planting, trellises, pest and disease management, cover crops, mushrooms, and culturally relevant crops like ginger and turmeric. As a result, learning will extend beyond the classroom.

PS/IS 102Q, a Title I public school in District 24 of New York City, serves approximately 1,200 children from prekindergarten through eighth grade, with 80% of its students receiving free or reduced-price lunch.

The Q102PA looks forward to offering additional family-friendly community-building events, embracing their motto, "Together We Soar!"