Downtown Alliance, Council Member Chin, CB1’s Catherine McVay Hughes and Volunteers Make Wall Street Park Bloom

On Saturday, May 18, the Downtown Alliance brought together over 100 volunteers of all ages, including Council Member Margaret Chin and Community Board 1 Chairperson Catherine McVay Hughes to spruce up Wall Street Park and take part in family-friendly activities at its annual Spring Community Day. 

Hundreds of volunteers helped plant 300 annuals around Wall Street Park (also known as Mannahatta Park) between Water and South streets, which suffered serious damage in the wake of Hurricane Sandy. The planting is part of the Downtown Alliance’s year-round Green Around Lower Manhattan program, dedicated to building an environmentally sustainable Lower Manhattan. 

In addition to gardening for all, there were kid-friendly activities like face-painting, balloon-marking and flower pot-planting. There was also a surprise "golden ticket" hidden in one of the flower pots. This ticket entitled the finder to an amazing array of gifts from downtown retailers, courtesy of our friends at the FiDi Association. Volunteers were also entered to win a $100 gift certificate from Century 21.

The event’s lead sponsor was Consolidated Edison. Other sponsors and partners included the FiDi Association, Wilmer Cutler Pickering and Dorr LLP, Whole Foods, the New York City Department of Parks & Recreation, State Senator Daniel L. Squadron, Manhattan Borough President Scott Stringer, New York City Council Member Margaret Chin, Community Board 1.

See pictures from the event at http://flic.kr/s/aHsjF9SLhD and view video at http://youtu.be/-QpRo1Ot8Hk.