15.5.2024, New York City (NYC), 3 Landscaping projects near Public Housing in the Bronx & Manhattan

Explorative study tour concerning landscaping projects, guided by Alex Hart, principal, Dirtworks Landscape Architecture P.C., New York (https://dirtworks.us/):

(1) 2424 Boston Road, The Bronx, New York 10467, incl. „R.A.I.N Boston Road Neighborhood Senior Center“, www.raininc.org/, and residential tower. This current redesign project includes: integrating the buildings (semi-covered walkway); main entrance plaza to be transformed into a welcoming space; seating are near the rockface; redesigned picnic area; seating area also on quieter side of the building.

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(2) 99 Fort Washington Av., New York, NY 10032 (Washington Heights), incl. „Riverstone Senior Life Services“, www.riverstonenyc.org/. Outdoor area recently renovated, incl. new native woodland planting (improving aesthetics, enhancing biodiversity), new furniture, improved accessibility for residents and visitors

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(3) Stephen Wise Towers, 136 W 91st St., New York, NY 10024, built in 1965 by the NYC Housing Authority. https://dirtworks.us/portfolio/wise-towers-2/: „The design maximizes play experiences for all ages and all abilities, while also providing a delightful place for caregivers and others. Focusing on a wide variety of play options, we wanted to give each child, teen and adult the opportunity to explore, create, grow and learn at their own pace“. – www.westsiderag.com/2024/01/09/the-triumphant-return-of-the-nivola-horses: … The Nivola Horses, named for … the Italian artist …, have been through a lot. The 18 concrete, modernist horse sculptures … had their muzzles lopped off by vandals … In … 2021, after a water main break …, they were cut off at the legs and removed completely … While the reconstruction of the concrete horses was an undoubted victory, the plaza space … remains a complicated one … a recently refurbished playground and a basketball court … Progress … at a price … non-residents bringing their children to play on the newly-installed equipment – and moving away from the children who live in the Wise towers …