Greener Corridors in Action: Planting the Grand Concourse

The distinguished Grand Concourse stretches more than four miles through the Bronx, from East 138th Street to Mosholu Parkway. It consists of a central roadway, service roads, submerged transverse roads, and landscaped malls. The boulevard was designed by Louis Aloys Risse, a French-born immigrant who worked for the New York City Department of Street Improvements, and was constructed between 1897 and 1909. Risse’s innovative street plan was inspired by the world-renowned Champs-Élysées in Paris, Olmsted & Vaux’s design for Central Park, and the Eastern and Ocean Parkways in Brooklyn. Today, the Grand Concourse serves as the central landscaped thoroughfare of the Grand Concourse Historic District, which spans the blocks between East 151st Street and 167th Street, as well as sections of Gerard and Walton Avenues.

Greener Corridors in Action: Planting the Grand Concourse will place one of New York City’s most celebrated boulevards in the spotlight—showcasing its design, evolution, and phases of reconstruction to date. The event will begin with a keynote address at 10:00 AM by New York City Department of Transportation Commissioner Ydanis Rodriguez, followed by remarks from leaders of The Municipal Art Society (MAS) on enhancing and creating greener, more resilient corridors in the Bronx and across the city. Additional discussion will focus on the role of civic art in promoting inclusivity, public participation, and the urban regeneration championed by The Bronx Museum and other cultural institutions.

This multi-faceted event will include a planting-in-action volunteer day from 11:00 AM to 2:00 PM in the landscaped malls between 165th and 167th Streets. Volunteers will plant native species provided by the Greenbelt Native Plant Center, with support from the NYC DOT Landscape Maintenance Program, U. Arias crews, and local community members.

At the same time, attendees may join guided walking tours of the boulevard and historic district at 11:00 AM and 1:00 PM, led by expert horticulturists and urbanists from MAS. Visitors are also encouraged to explore the visually arresting and thought-provoking exhibition at The Bronx Museum, Shared Imaginings, New Futures, on view throughout the day.

Aligned with the broader goals of Greener Corridors in Action: Planting the Grand Concourse, the Shared Imaginings, New Futures exhibition advocates for environmental stewardship and community engagement. It invites visitors to interact with artist-designed tools and systems that promote grassroots cultural exchange, creative problem-solving, and community building.