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tl;dr: Tal and I serve together on the Parks Committee of our Community Board. We are raising money to install a metal tree guard around one of the vulnerable trees on the perimeter of Tompkins Square Park. This will protect the tree from dog waste, vehicle damage, and soil compaction, ensuring our neighborhood stays green for years to come.
What is a tree guard, and why does it matter? If you live in New York City, you’ve probably walked past dozens of tree guards today without a second thought. They are the short metal fences that surround the soil bed at the base of a street tree.
While they might look like simple decoration, they are actually critical infrastructure for city life. They protect our trees from:
- Dog waste: High concentrations of dog waste can poison the soil and kill trees.
- Physical damage: They act as a shield against car bumpers, delivery trucks, and trash collection.
- Foot traffic: They stop people from walking on the soil, which compacts the earth and suffocates tree roots.
The Problem at Tompkins Square Park: I’m a local resident and have served on the Community Board 3 Parks Committee since 2024. Last year, I walked the perimeter of Tompkins Square Park to see how our trees were doing. The results were stark: Only 7 of the 58 trees on the park’s exterior have tree guards.
That means 88% of the trees lining our most famous neighborhood park are fully exposed to damage every single day.
Where the money is going: We have been in contact with the NYC Parks Department, and they are ready to help us install a guard. However, public funding is tight, and "street tree maintenance" is often ranked low on the city's priority list. If we want this protection now, we have to fund it ourselves.
NYC Parks has quoted us the cost for a standard, durable metal tree guard at $1,950.
This covers the fabrication and professional installation of the guard. It is not a small amount, but it is a permanent investment in the health of the East Village.
How you can help: Please consider donating whatever you can—whether it’s $10 or $100. We might not be able to fix every tree bed in the city, but we can definitely fix this one.
Sharing our learnings: Tal and I are committed to sharing what we learn about government procurement, Parks, and protecting our city's investments through our newsletters. Check them out:
Want to learn more? Check out my post on Tree Guards: What it takes to add Tree Guards to a famous Manhattan Park.
Let’s protect our park, one tree at a time!