Adopt-A-Tree Summer 2024

Adopt-A-Tree has returned! We are excited to bring back our volunteer-based, tree stewardship program. Our tree pits are finally in bloom and we’re looking for neighbors who are interested in adopting a tree!

There are over 85 tree pits in our district (on just 6 blocks!)—and the process of planting perennials has been years in the making. It started five years ago with funding from the Borough President and City Council, allowing the BID to place tree guards in our previously unprotected tree pits. With each new tree guard installed, the BID is able to team with The Horticultural Society of New York to plant perennials native to Brooklyn.

Volunteers are asked to water their tree beds weekly. All of the plants in our tree pits enjoy full or partial sun, are drought tolerant, and do well in sandy or gravelly soils. Although these plants are less temperamental than most, it is important to keep an eye on them and provide water during periods of drought throughout the Summer.

Volunteers will be asked to attend one short introduction session hosted by the BID. The session includes learning about the pits, tips on what you can do to best care for them, and materials and goodies to help you along the way. The introduction session will be on Monday, June 10th at 6PM.

Please fill out this form to participate. We can’t wait to welcome all of our newcomers and to reconnect with our previous volunteers! Pit assignment will be first come first serve, and we will be giving priority of tree pit locations to our returning volunteers.

Adopt-A-Tree Summer 2023

We are excited for the return of our popular volunteer-based, tree stewardship program. This year, we are back and better than ever. Our tree pits are finally in bloom and we’re looking for neighbors who are interested in adopting a tree!

In addition to weekly waterings, participants will be asked to attend one short introduction session hosted by the BID, in June. Volunteers will learn about the pits, be given tips on what you can do to best care for them, and receive materials and goodies to help you along the way.

Please fill out this form to participate. We can’t wait to welcome all of our newcomers and to reconnect with our previous volunteers! Pit assignment will be first come first serve, and we will be giving priority of tree pit locations to our returning volunteers.

There are over 85 tree pits in our district (on just 6 blocks!)—and the process of planting perennials has been years in the making. It started four years ago with funding from the Borough President and City Council, allowing the BID to place tree guards in our previously unprotected tree pits. With each new tree guard installed, the BID is able to team with The Horticultural Society of New York to plant perennials native to Brooklyn.

Adopt-A-Tree Summer 2022

We are excited for the return of our popular volunteer-based, tree stewardship program. This year, we are back and better than ever. Our tree pits are finally in bloom and we’re looking for neighbors who are interested in adopting a tree!

In addition to weekly waterings, participants will be asked to attend one short introduction session hosted by the BID, in June. Volunteers will learn about the pits, be given tips on what you can do to best care for them, and receive materials and goodies to help you along the way.

Please fill out this form to participate. We can’t wait to welcome all of our newcomers and to reconnect with our previous volunteers! Pit assignment will be first come first serve, and we will be giving priority of tree pit locations to our returning volunteers.

There are over 85 tree pits in our district (on just 6 blocks!)—and the process of planting perennials has been years in the making. It started three years ago and with received funding from the Borough President and City Council, the BID has been able to place tree guards in our previously unprotected tree pits. With each new tree guard installed, the BID is able to team with The Horticultural Society of New York to plant perennials native to Brooklyn.

Adopt-A-Tree Returns to Grand Street!

Two of last year’s awesome volunteers!

After last year’s success of Adopt-A-Tree on Grand Street, we are excited to announce the return of our awesome volunteer-based, tree stewardship program. This year, we are back and better than ever with some upgrades to the program. With many neighbors expressing interest in adopting a tree, we are adding some new workshops, and guidelines to help us expand our volunteer programming and network.

In addition to weekly waterings, participants will be asked to attend three brief workshops hosted by the BID, in May, July, and October. At each workshop you will learn about the pits, be given tips on what you can do to best care for them, and receive materials and goodies to help you along the way.

Please fill out this form to participate. We are so excited to welcome all of our new participants and to reconnect with our previous volunteers! Pit assignment will be first come first serve, and we will be giving priority of tree pit locations to our returning volunteers.

There are over 85 tree pits in our district (on just 6 blocks!)—and the process of planting perennials has been years in the making. It started three years ago and with received funding from Borough President Eric Adams Council Member Antonio Reynoso, the BID has been able to place tree guards in our previously unprotected tree pits. With each new tree guard installed, the BID is able to team with The Horticultural Society of New York to plant perennials native to Brooklyn.

Our collection of Brooklyn-native perennials includes “Purple Tears” switchgrass and “Wood’s Blue” asters. These choices were intentional to bring Brooklyn wildflowers back to our streetscape, but even as native flowers it can be difficult to survive the city summer. Sidewalk heat, pollution, litter, and our beloved neighborhood dogs misusing the pits can inhibit growth and require plantings to be tended with extra care.

Our trees do tremendous work in combating some of the above factors—the trees within the Grand Street BID district alone save the City over $5000 a year draining water, removing smog, and conserving energy. Pin Oaks, Japanese Zelkovas, Kentucky Coffeetrees, and Swamp White Oaks all find a home on Grand Street—and many of our trees are young and newly planted. Similar to our perennials, it can be difficult for a young tree to make it on a city commercial corridor.

Adopt-A-Tree Today! Help us steward our awesome trees, meet our neighbors, and beautify our community. We look forward to the coming months with you all!

Adopt-a-Tree on Grand Street

Help keep our neighborhood green this summer

Walker’s Low Catmints between Graham Ave and Humboldt Street.

It’s not easy being green for the trees and flowering plants on Grand Street. That’s why the BID, through partnerships with The Horticultural Society of New York and Council Member Antonio Reynoso, works to bring new greenery to the corridor and care for our budding plants. However, given all the uncertainty we currently face in tandem with many of our neighbors expressing interest in taking part in a community project, we’re introducing our Adopt-a-Tree program. Our goal is to ensure that even if we were to face funding challenges in the near future, our growing greenery will stay green.

Our Adopt-a-Tree program is simply an ask that you water the tree pit in front of your building whenever possible. To participate, fill out this form so we can match you with a tree pit that will be yours to water. We’ll pencil you in to care for your assigned tree pit and you’ll be responsible for watering the tree and flowers. Anybody who likes to can participate—whether you are a business, a building owner, a resident, or you work in the area.

Perennials newly planted by the Hort in May 2019.

There are over 85 tree pits in our district (on just 6 blocks!)—and the process of planting perennials has been years in the making. It started two years ago when the BID received funding from Borough President Eric Adams to place tree guards in our previously unprotected tree pits. With each new tree guard installed, the BID is able to team with The Hort to plant perennials native to Brooklyn. Over the past two years, with additional funding support from Council Member Reynoso, the BID has been able to install over 60 tree guards—with plans to protect all of our trees in the near future.

Our collection of Brooklyn-native perennials includes “Purple Tears” switchgrass and “Wood’s Blue” asters. These choices were intentional to bring Brooklyn wildflowers back to our streetscape, but even as native flowers it can be difficult to survive the city summer. Sidewalk heat, pollution, litter, and our beloved neighborhood dogs misusing the pits can inhibit growth and require plantings to be tended with extra care.

Our trees do tremendous work in combating some of the above factors—the trees within the Grand Street BID district alone save the City over $5000 a year draining water, removing smog, and conserving energy. Pin Oaks, Japanese Zelkovas, Kentucky Coffeetrees, and Swamp White Oaks all find a home on Grand Street—and many of our trees are young and newly planted. Similar to our perennials, it can be difficult for a young tree to make it on a city commercial corridor.

So we’re asking for your help. Fill out this quick form—and we’ll reach out via email some more detailed instructions for your assigned tree pit. We’re asking for nothing more than a weekly watering that will make a substantial difference. Share this form with anyone you know who may be interested—we’re looking for the help of our entire community.

For questions, please reach out to info@grandstreetbk.org and follow @grandstreetbid for updates.