West 104th St. Block Association: beautification

West 104th Street Block Association

In August 2005, a red-tailed hawk perched on a bench in Riverside Park at 104th St. That's 320 Riverside Dr. in the background. This hawk's relatives live at an equally swanky address: Fifth Ave. in the 80's. We hope he's doing a good job reducing the park's rat population.

Beautification program
The block association has a year-round beautification program, the goal of which is to make the block look attractive, secure, and safe. We focus on these areas:

Tree care	Over the years, we planted and now maintain 26 trees. In the summer, block residents and building staff water regularly. We periodically hire a professional tree care company to apply a deep root fertilizer and prune.
Flowers and plants	Each fall, we plant bulbs in each tree garden, usually tulips and daffodils in various sizes, colors, and shapes. We plant polka dot plant, dusty miller, vinca and impatiens in late May; they bloom all summer, fading only at the first frost.
Tree guards	The block association maintains the iron guards (see photo below) that surround each tree garden. In 2001, we raised $2,600 through a beautification challenge grant to purchase three tree guards for new trees at 315 Riverside Dr. In 1995, we raised funds to replace each tree guard (we donated the old ones to nearby blocks). The uniform style tree guard sends a signal to residents and visitors that the block is organized and cares about its appearance. (The tree guards were made for us by 786 Ironworks in Brooklyn [718 418 4808]; ask for Dino Canka and be sure to mention the West 104th St. Block Association.)
Graffiti removal	We ask landlords and managing agents to remove graffiti as soon as it appears.
Sidewalks	A crack-free, level sidewalk not only looks better, it's safer to walk on as well. The block association has helped landlords and owners maintain their sidewalks by identifying vendors to repair or replace them as necessary.

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Our streetlights
Since March 2006 our street has had 1890's-style streetlights (see photo below) unlike most neighboring blocks which have 1950's 'cobra' streetlights. How did we get lucky enough to have these vintage lights, called F poles?

In 2002, Steve Zirinsky, a block resident and architect, had a vision of a better looking block that included replacing the 1950’s lights with replicas of the lights that were on the block when it was developed in the 1890s. Then we approached our neighbors and co-op boards, and asked if they would be willing to contribute $9,500 toward the cost of the lights. They said Yes!

So Steve began a near two-year series of plan reviews and approvals by the City Art Commission, Community Board 7, and the Department of Transportation. Then, it was off to the foundry in Pennsylvania where the plans were molded into the shape of the slender, delicate poles you see on the street.

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Our trees
If any readers can supply the missing planting dates, we would be grateful! The 2006 column provides the circumference in inches measured five feet above the ground.

Address	Type	Year planted / original size	July 2006 size	Notes
320 RSD, side south	Honey locust	Nov 2004	8.25	New tree bed Nov 2004
320 RSD, side north	Honey locust	Nov 2004	7.5	New tree bed Nov 2004
320 RSD, front west	Honey locust	1975	36.25
320 RSD, front east	Honey locust	1975	41.5
319 W 104	Willow oak	?	46.75
315 W 104	Honey locust	Jun 1996 / 6.75	16.75	Formerly held a cherry tree
309 W 104	Saphora	?	26.25
905 WEA side	Saphora	?	31.25
905 WEA side west	Pin oak	Dec 1997 / 6.25	14.25	New bed in 1997; courtesy of Adrian Benepe, Commissioner of Parks
905 WEA side middle	Linden	2007		Dead elm removed Fall 2004
905 WEA side east	Pin oak	Dec 1997 / 6.25	16.25	New bed in 1997; courtesy of Adrian Benepe
905 WEA front south	Honey locust	Dec 1005 / 7	7.25	Norway maple removed fall 2004
905 WEA front north	Honey Locust	?	18.25
315 RSD side south	Linden	Nov 2000 / 5.75	12
315 RSD side middle	Linden	Nov 2000 / 6.25	13.5
315 RSD side north	Linden	Nov 2000 / 6.5	12.5
315 RSD front west	Honey locust	1975	16.25	Damaged (year?) by falling piece of masonry, growth stunted as a result
315 RSD front east	Honey locust	2003	13.5
322 W 104	London plane	?	27.75
318 W 104	London plane	2003	10.25	London Plans removed May 2002
314 W 104	London plane	?	35.5
308 W 104	Gingko	Dec 2005 / 6.75	7	The two most recent trees in this bed have died of unknown causes
895 WEA side east	Maple	?	17.5
895 WEA side west	Maple	?	20	Measured just under crotch (this tree branches out 4.5 feet above ground)
895 WEA front north	Honey locust	1997	17.75
895 WEA front south	Honey locust	April 1999	14.75

Tree planting at 315 W 104
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Ned Barnard's New York City tree articles
Ned is a former board member and the author of New York City Trees: A Field Guide for the Metropolitan Area, published Fall 2002 by Columbia University Press and written with the support of the New York City Department of Parks & Recreation. Since 1998, the block association has been privileged to publish stories on Ned's favorite trees in our newsletter, some of which appear in his book. We hope you enjoy reading them as much as we have!

Bartlett Tree Service plants the honey locust tree
in front of 315 West 104 in 1996

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Riverside Park
Having a park right outside your front door is a necessary luxury every New Yorker should have and residents of 104th Street are among the lucky few to actually have one.

Several block residents created and maintain park gardens in the vicinity of 104th St. The block association president recently spent a sunny, fun-filled afternoon working in one of these gardens with three neighborhood children -- Daniel, Sam, and Sabrina -- and their moms. Volunteer in the park! You'll do yourself and your park a world of good. Contact the Riverside Park Fund, whose "mission is to preserve and improve New York’s premier waterfront green space."

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Hudson Beach Cafe
The cafe is open from late spring to early autumn.
Phone: 917 370 3448
Hours: See PD O'Hurley's web site
Location: Riverside Park at 105th St. near the dog run and the volleyball courts

Traveling rings
Traveling rings are outdoor physical fitness equipment that provide enjoyable and challenging exercise for the whole body. An "import" from Muscle Beach in Venice, California, the adult rings were installed in Riverside Park in 2003; the junior rings were added in 2005. View photos and videos. The rings are located in the Park's lower-level active recreation area at 105th Street, between the Hudson Beach Cafe and the Hudson River. Access to the rings is at 103rd Street and Riverside Drive. The closest subway is the 103rd St. stop on the #1 line, which stops two blocks east at Broadway and 103rd Street.

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Updated 1 January 2008