Celebrate Spring in Lower Manhattan with Community Day on Saturday, May 7

04/28/2011
Celebrate Spring in Lower Manhattan with Community Day on Saturday, May 7

The Alliance for Downtown New York, Andaz Wall Street and 75 Wall Street Condominium Residences will launch Spring Community Day – including a community planting – on Saturday, May 7, 2011 in Lower Manhattan.

“Lower Manhattan has gone green, with millions of square feet of new green office and residential space, new street trees, fantastic new parks and farmers’ markets,” said Elizabeth H. Berger, President of the Alliance for Downtown New York. “Thanks to the Andaz and 75 Wall, volunteers at our fourth annual Community Day will have the opportunity to savor local food as well as beautify the neighborhood.”

“Lower Manhattan is all about community, and what’s a better example of everyone coming together to improve their neighborhood than Spring Community Day,” said New York City Council Member Margaret Chin, who has pitched in to help plant for the last two years and also helped shred trees at this winter’s MulchFest. “I applaud the Downtown Alliance and all of the day’s partners for building an event rooted in such a good cause.”

The event will include the Downtown Alliance’s fourth annual spring community planting event at Wall Street (Mannahatta) Park from 10 AM-noon, where volunteers can plant more than 300 annuals around the park.

The planting is part of the Downtown Alliance’s year-round Going Green program, dedicated to building an environmentally sustainable Lower Manhattan. It’s sponsored by Consolidated Edison, Whole Foods, Crumbs Bake Shop, the New York City Department of Parks & Recreation, Manhattan Borough President Scott Stringer, New York City Council Member Margaret Chin and Community Board 1.

Across Water Street from the park, Andaz Wall Street will launch its 2011 season of the city’s only hotel-run Farmers’ Market from 8 AM-3 PM. Chef Maximo Lopez May of the hotel’s Wall & Water restaurant will be cooking up tasty, complimentary samples.

High above will be even more activity. From noon to 2 PM, 75 Wall Street Condominium Residences will host a rooftop story time, cupcake and face painting and a balloon artist for kids, while an Andaz spa therapist gives “mini-massages” to adults.

The Downtown Alliance’s planting is just one of several “green” events taking place that Saturday. Just north of Chambers Street, Friends of Bogardus Garden will host its annual May Day celebration in TriBeCa at Chambers and Hudson streets from 10:30 AM-12:30 PM. And just blocks away, Friends of Duane Park will host its annual spring celebration at the same time at Duane and Hudson streets.

What: Spring Community Day

When: Saturday, May 7, 2011
Planting: 10 AM-noon
Market: 8 AM-3 PM
Rooftop fair: noon-2 PM

Where: Wall Street (Mannahatta) Park, between Water and South streets
75 Wall Street