Arborist Nature Walk, May 17 2025

McGolrick is home to hundreds of astounding trees - from the towering London planes to the big ash trees - the park has a rich, green canopy of trees. Our quirky and magnificent Eastern Redbud (Cercis canadensis) even received a Great Trees of NYC honor earlier this year.

On a misty spring day, dozens of neighbors dodged the rain to learn about these and the many other varieties of trees in McGolrick. The hour-long walk, led by Whitney Lewis of Bartlett Tree Experts, took participants around the park to see (and touch) the various types of trees within the park, understand how to identify the different species, and look for markers of their health. The conversation included the impact of flooding, the importance of mulching and leaf composting, and preventative steps that can be taken to extend the life of our trees.

Whitney also brought 500 saplings for park-goers to take home along with some special treats for our ‘lil Friends of McGolrick.

It was truly amazing to learn just how important trees are to keeping McGolrick Park’s ecosystem thriving! Thanks Whitney for joining us in McGolrick!

For tips on caring for your trees, click here!

Private support for McGolrick Nature Walks is provided by City Parks Foundation and Partnerships for Parks through the NYC Green Fund.