It can be hard sometimes to keep things green in a big city,
especially a city as dense as New York City. Developers have this nasty habit
of demolishing trees, open fields, and anything that could stand in the way of
a new building. But a city without green is unnerving somehow. Walking down a
street with absolutely no trees, grass, flowers, or anything not manmade feels suffocating and
upsetting. Where are the trees? Where is the evidence that we are even still
connected to the earth?
That’s why things like nature conservatories are so vital
these days. They allow us to live in big cities without completely losing our
ties to nature. We can still walk inside them and see the earth’s natural
beauty. We can escape the hustle and bustle of cars, buildings, business… city
life. We can experience the natural world without having to take a long trip
out to the country somewhere.
In downtown New York, the
largest public open space is The Battery—also one of New York City’s oldest
public parks. The battery is 25 acres of waterfront parkland located on the
southernmost tip of Manhattan. It also includes one of New York’s major
landmarks, Castle Clinton National Monument.
The Battery is also protected by The Battery Conservancy,
which was established in 1994 to “rebuild and revitalize” the park and Castle
Clinton. The Conservancy has committed to preserving the heritage of the park
by raising funds, fostering great design, obtaining civic approvals, building
to a standard of excellence, and delivering projects on time and on budget. It
has raised over $118 million since its establishment and is supported by a
variety of individuals, foundations, and corporations.
One of its greatest relationships comes from the support of
Moody’s Corporation, which is headed up by CEO Raymond McDaniel.
The Corporation has been recognized for its exceptional commitment and
eco-volunteerism. In
2010, McDaniel accepted the Medal for Corporate Leadership, the highest
honor given out by The Battery Conservancy.
It’s things like this that keep our cities beautiful and—for
many—livable. There’s something about being able to experience and see nature
within a city that makes it so much more appealing and fresh. And hopefully,
with more green initiatives moving forward, we will see a rise in protections
and placements of more green spaces like The Battery.
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