Broadway Mall’s $1.95 Million Restoration Project Breathes New Life into Urban Oases

The Great White Way may soon have to be renamed the Great Green Way as the Broadway Mall Association embarks on an ambitious program sprucing up the mini parks that dot the boulevard on the UWS as part of a ten-year $1.95 million dollar overhaul.

The ribbon of green that has been quietly thriving for over four decade is known as the Broadway malls stretching from W. 70th to W. 168th Street. The 19 linear parks, which have long been a sanctuary for New Yorkers, offering fresh air amidst the city’s hustle, are being overhauled for the first time in nearly 20 years. For the past four-to-five years the malls have been threatened by aging landscapes and a changing climate.

Andrew Genn, the Executive Director of The Broadway Mall Association said that “While the Dormitory Authority of New York would support capital improvements with rehabilitation of worn and rusty post & chain borders and some limited planting, a private donor would support the cost to upgrade the malls with native plants.”

The BMA, founded in 1980, has been instrumental in maintaining and enhancing these spaces, ensuring that they remain vibrant and accessible to all.

But time has taken its toll. Weather, pollution, and the sheer volume of daily foot traffic have worn down the malls. The new restoration project, which the BMA recently announced, aims to address these issues head-on. The plan is to not only restore the malls to their former glory but to reimagine them for the 21st century—creating spaces that are more sustainable and resilient.

The idea for another major overhaul was first published in 2019 when BMA hired Future Green Studio to create a Restoration and Management Plan. However, the operations got stalled due to the Pandemic.

Genn told Straus News, “The people before me saw an opportunity to make them more active, creating active, biodiverse ecosystems, mini parks. And so I think the concept was to hire a designer and come up with a master plan, and that’s what Ian Olsen, the Director of Horticulture is implementing now.”

“The older shrubs were visually boring, ecologically unproductive, they were either sterile, which means they don’t flower at all, or they have small, insignificant flowers that don’t attract any insects or any of the pollinators,” Olsen explained. “And, I think that they were just not working anymore, especially because pedestrian’s perceptions of spaces were changing.”

On June 4th, Broadway Mall Association’s “Great Green Way” Project was launched through a ribbon-cutting event at Mitchel Park (3975 Broadway.). Amongst the people who attended the event were State Senator Cordell Cleare, Manhattan Borough President Mark Levine, Manhattan Borough Parks Commissioner Tricia Shimamura, Broadway Mall officials, community organizations, naturalist Eric Sanderson and other urban horticultural leaders.

Apart from visually boring plants that were making the Broadway malls less appealing, there was a certain plant called the “English Ivy” which was inhibiting the growth of other plants and trees.

“What we’re doing is replacing the entire understory shrubs, bases, plants, a lot of, you know, grasses. English Ivy is an invasive species that competes for pretty much anything else in the soil. It moves around. It climbs up trees. It can, you know, kill other plants,” said Olsen”.

The BMA is now focused on prioritizing plants that are truly native to the area. This means that they are using locally sourced species, with plants purchased from nearby nurseries.

“We’re not using a Georgian version of Goldenrod; we’re sticking with what’s naturally found here,” said Olsen.”

These plants were also selected for their resilience to urban challenges like higher levels of salt and, in some cases, lead in the soil, as well as heat stress. “We carefully chose species based on strict criteria to ensure they’d thrive in this City environment. Despite these tough conditions, we’ve managed to cultivate a diverse array of plants, and the majority of what we’ve chosen is thriving really well,” said Olsen.

Talking about the reception of the project from local communities, Ian Olsen said, “Community boards were very receptive to this. They loved the idea. Their main concern was, ‘Are you taking out any of the trees?’ And I said, ‘No, we’re leaving all the trees. The trees are great,’” Olsen remarked, emphasizing the importance of preserving existing greenery while introducing newer shrubs.

This project has seen enthusiastic participation from local residents, particularly in the 150th Street area, which has been transformed into a thriving pollinator garden. “We’ve been on the ground there, working with a guy who lives in the building right next door, who wanted to pilot it. His neighbors are out, the folks who spend a lot of time there are out. And they help us pick up trash—they really love it,” Genn noted.

These spaces have become active community hubs where people of all ages come together. The parklet malls, with their seating areas and flower beds, have become some of the heaviest-used parks in the city. “If it was me, you know, we would make a little more accessibility in the interiors of the malls, add another little seating area for use. But what’s interesting is that these spaces have become like community spaces, with people playing games, multi-generational interactions, and more,” Genn explained.

Beyond the social benefits, the BMA’s efforts are also yielding significant ecological rewards. The introduction of native plants has created concentrated habitats for various species. According to Genn, “A partner of ours, who works at the Museum of Natural History, found about 15 different bee species on one of the malls. It’s incredible what’s there when you’re looking for it, and you plant these plants. All of a sudden, it’s been two months, and we’re conserving species that are already in decline.”

These newly created ecological habitats serve as islands for insects, birds, and even mammals, providing them with the resources they need to thrive in an urban environment. Genn compared this to natural habitats, saying, “If you go into the woods, say in northern New Jersey, you’re not going to get this concentration of biodiversity anywhere. We’re building super habitats—really concentrated forms that are used as islands by insects, birds to stop at. There’s such a concentration of food and resources there that they don’t need more space.”

The BMA’s vision extends beyond mere beautification. They are also committed to education and social impact, particularly through partnerships with community organizations. “We’re seen as the big papa bear, I guess. We’re a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, but because of our directors, we’ve built up some capacity. We have resources, we have experts,” Genn shared.

The association is also working on developing a horticulture curriculum for schools, mirroring their successful public art program. “We’d like to do the same thing with horticulture and teaching urban horticulture in the classrooms, in the schools, and surrounding all across the five miles,” Genn revealed. This initiative aims to introduce children to the joys of gardening and the importance of ecological stewardship, fostering a new generation of environmentally conscious citizens.

Despite their success, the BMA faces challenges in sustaining their projects, particularly in terms of funding. Genn highlighted the importance of fundraising in their operations since the bulk of their revenue comes from non-city, non-taxpayer sources. “We really want to heighten awareness that these malls just don’t happen. More than 80 percent of our revenue comes from non-city, non-taxpayer money. We are generating, we are fundraising for this city-owned property on our own in the best possible way,” he explained.

The association’s Spring Gala and outreach to foundations are key fundraising strategies, with significant support from partners like Con Edison and Columbia University. “Columbia University, Columbia Medical Center—they do a winter lighting ceremony where we have a children’s chorus, and so people know about it,” Genn added.

As the Broadway Mall Association continues to innovate and expand its impact, it remains a testament to the power of community-driven urban renewal. With its focus on ecological restoration, education, and social engagement, the BMA is not just beautifying Broadway but transforming it into a living, breathing entity that serves both people and nature.