The Bronx’s Grand Concourse came alive with greenery and community spirit on Thursday, May 15, as local residents and city officials joined forces for “Green Corridors in Action: Planting the Grand Concourse,” a volunteer-driven beautification project and guided tour hosted by the New York City Department of Transportation (DOT).
The event, part of the NYCxDESIGN Festival, celebrated both the ongoing transformation of the Grand Concourse and the community’s role in sustaining its beauty. Volunteers planted mature shrubs and native greenery in the median spaces along the historic thoroughfare—highlighting both recent infrastructure improvements and the ongoing need for care and maintenance.
Anthony Perez, Bronx Borough Commissioner for the DOT, emphasized the importance of stewardship as well as infrastructure.
“We’re here to do two things: to celebrate the great reconstruction of the Grand Concourse that has brought planted mediums beautification to our community,” Perez said. “But also call attention for the need for additional maintenance and support to keep them beautiful.”
Under the leadership of DOT Commissioner Ydanis Rodriguez, the agency has been working to improve pedestrian safety, accessibility, and aesthetics along major corridors throughout the borough. The Grand Concourse project, part of a years-long capital improvement effort, includes landscaped medians, improved lighting, expanded pedestrian space, and new bus lanes.
The May 15 event also offered free guided walking tours led by horticulturists and urban design experts from the Municipal Art Society. Participants explored the Grand Concourse Historic District, a stretch of the boulevard known for its art deco architecture and cultural significance.
Attendees also had the opportunity to visit Working Knowledge: Shared Imaginings, New Futures, an interactive exhibit at The Bronx Museum. The exhibit showcases artist-designed tools that aim to foster community problem-solving, cultural exchange, and grassroots transformation.
Plants for the beautification effort were supplied by the Greenbelt Native Plant Center, and many of the volunteers who joined the day’s work came from neighborhoods along the Grand Concourse.
The Grand Concourse—often called the Bronx’s answer to the Champs-Élysées—was designed in the early 20th century by French-born engineer Louis Aloys Risse. The 4.5-mile boulevard runs from East 138th Street to Mosholu Parkway and features central roadways, service roads, sunken cross streets, and green medians. Its design was inspired by both Parisian boulevards and New York’s own Central Park.
“Green Corridors in Action” was one of several events taking place citywide as part of NYCxDESIGN, an annual festival that celebrates innovation, art, and urban design through exhibitions, installations, and public programs.
