Urban Oasis in Monsignor McGolrick Park

In 2014, through a competitive process, NYC Audubon, an urban chapter of the National Audubon Society, received a $24,871 grant from GCEF (and provided $25,636 in matching funds) to create an “Urban Oasis” in Monsignor McGolrick Park. The Urban Oasis project entailed creating a new, ¼-acre garden in the southeast corner of the park by planting native species (including wildflowers, which provide food and shelter for migratory birds). The project engaged volunteers to plant the garden and inventoried the park’s bird species. The project also sought to build a community of Greenpoint residents committed to the environmental stewardship and maintenance of McGolrick Park.

NYC Audubon completed the garden in July of 2015. Rain barrels were installed for rainwater collection; temporary signage was designed, printed, and installed in the area; and a native plants brochure was created. Additionally, training sessions on how to maintain the Urban Oasis garden were held for volunteers from the McGolrick Park Neighborhood Alliance and other members of the Greenpoint community. Workshops were also held to teach the community about native plants and their identification. The bird species inventories documented a variety of birds within the park, such as the American robin, hermit thrush, chimney swift, and Northern parula.

Above: Photos #3-5 by Debra Kriensky. Photo #7 by Marcy Boyle.

• Created a ¼-acre native plant garden, comprised of 4,372 plants, in Monsignor McGolrick Park
• Hosted 4 training sessions to recruit and train volunteers to help maintain the garden
• Managed 57 volunteers who assisted with planting, weeding, watering, and maintenance of the garden, accumulating over 379 volunteer hours
• Installed 3 rain barrels as green infrastructure to collect and store rainwater
• Documented 17 different bird species in the park

• Urban Oasis in Monsignor McGolrick Park: Native Plant Brochure in English
• Urban Oasis in Monsignor McGolrick Park: Native Plant Brochure in Polish
• Urban Oasis in Monsignor McGolrick Park: Planting Plan
• Urban Oasis in Monsignor McGolrick Park: Plants Catalog

Get Involved With McGolrick Park’s “Urban Oasis” (GWAPP.org, July 23, 2014)

Build an “Urban Oasis” at McGolrick Park (Greenpoint Gazette, May 21, 2014)

NYC Audubon is Bringing Birds to Greenpoint (GWAPP.org, May 20, 2014)