Like New Yorkers themselves, native plantings have grown and changed with the lands that they inhabit. With more than 1,300 plant species native to the five boroughs of New York City, these plantings support pollinators, improve soil health, and require significantly less water and maintenance than ornamental or imported species.
Native species have always carried a quiet resilience, withstanding droughts, extreme weather, and ongoing environmental crises. But at the Westbrook Memorial Garden, their endurance does not go unnoticed.
Part of the Brooklyn Queens Land Trust, a nonprofit dedicated to the protection of community green spaces, the Westbrook Memorial Garden nurtures over 100 plant varieties within its soil. The majority are native to the land. By implementing successional plantings, the garden is designed to sustain life across all seasons, creating a space for pollinators to return year after year.
While often overlooked in the scheme of climate resilience, pollinators sustain the systems that absorb carbon, cool urban environments, and help cities adapt to climate change. Without birds, bees, and butterflies, our gardens would be barren. The Westbrook Memorial garden designs its plots with care and continuity in mind, focusing on native species like milkweed and perennials. The “Pollinator Highway,” a CitizensNYC funded initiative, aims to provide safe passage for these creatures amongst urban terrain. The garden invites residents and neighboring green spaces to prioritize native planting and create corridors of flowering plants.
Paula Young, one of the leaders of the project, shared, “When you improve your ecosystem for pollinators, the overall ecological health of your landscape improves. The way that humanity manages pollinators will define our collective future.”
In a city where new developments often outpace ecological restoration, native plantings and productive pollination reconstruct neighborhoods in their own way by rebuilding fragmented habitats and creating sustainable ecosystems.
And pollinators are not the only ones who have found a home at Westbrook Memorial Garden. This green space has brought together longtime residents, new neighbors, and even individuals from nearby shelters. Over the past few years, the garden has remained a place of access and participation, where neighbors passing by are encouraged to connect and contribute to the land. It offers rhythm, responsibility, and a true sense of belonging. CitizensNYC is delighted to support organizations like the Westbrook Memorial Garden, growing not only as an ecological space, but as a shared ground where community, care, and purpose take root.
