Community

Every neighborhood in New York City deserves clean, green, welcoming public space.

Many communities have a vision. A group wants to bring programming to a street, a school wants a garden, or a housing provider imagines what plants could do for their residents. But many do not have the resources to build and sustain those spaces on their own. The communities where this gap is widest are often the ones where quality public space is needed, and wanted most. We support these communities.

The Hort brings horticultural expertise, crews, plants, programs, and consistent presence to public and community spaces across the city.  Local partners — neighborhood groups, schools, housing providers, city agencies — shape how each space is used. We bring the know-how and daily care that help those spaces flourish, and support building deeper connections to plants in those spaces.

On Open Streets, Plazas, and in Business Improvement Districts, The Hort provides ongoing horticulture, sanitation, and snow removal. We also lead programming and public events and help local partners build their capacity to manage and sustain their public spaces. In Public Schools, we  build gardens, develop curriculum, and lead tailored hands-on instruction for students as well as accredited training for teachers. In supportive housing and care settings, we design gardens and programming around residents’ needs, guided by facility staff who know what’s calming, accessible, and fits the daily routine.

The result is sustainable public spaces that are well maintained, planted, and programmed season after season. Schools have gardens that last beyond a single grant cycle. Housing residents have green spaces designed for them. Neighborhoods have green public spaces where people stop, sit, and stay.