Safe to say that Brooklyn is Hot! The Boom Borough, as it is affectionately called, has experienced many noteworthy advances over the last decade. Brooklyn’s green spaces are part of its allure. This series will focus on the development and design, continued maintenance, and history of green space, both existing and proposed, in the borough of Brooklyn, with a focus on the western shore from Greenpoint to Redhook.

Green space, especially in the form of parks and nature preserves, are integral parts of every American city. By offering opportunities for recreation, reflection, and relaxation, parks improve community health and increase property values. They provide habitat for numerous species of animals and plants, and cool city air through transpiration and evaporation.  Brooklyn’s green spaces includes famous parks such as Olmstead and Vaux’s jewel, Prospect Park,  which while perhaps not quite as famous as it’s big brother Central Park,  is arguably a finer park. (more…)

As the last of the colorful leaves fall from the deciduous trees in the city, it is easier to understand the great gifts provided by our leafy friends during the warmer months. I attended a lecture by New York City Department of Parks & Recreation Commissioner, Adrian Benepe, last week where he outlined a great number of the benefits trees provide on many levels. Aside from the measured effects of slowing climate change, protecting water quality, improving air quality, lowering summer air temperature, conserving natural resources and providing wildlife habitat, there are tangible economic indicators from a real estate perspective as well.

A property’s proximity to a park or other area with trees has a significant impact its value. Just like a landscaped home’s value increases 5 to 11%, New York City’s added street trees increase property values by $52 million each year. Added trees also increase economic activity in business districts and elevate community pride.

I will be sure to remind myself of the significance of trees as an asset for New York City when the buds appear again in the early spring.