The Importance of Battery Park in New York City
When thinking of New York City, one might not first picture the numerous, lush parks the area has to offer. Yet, it is often that we find ourselves immersed within these natural regions of the urban environment, especially for our Tree Bath classes. Battery Park, located along the southern shoreline of Manhattan, is one of the many parks that New York has to offer for all, and one with a unique history.
Named after an artillery battery served to protect the city in the late 1700’s, the park began to evolve to its current state in 1855 when the land was repurposed as an open space contrasting the heavily developed downtown Manhattan. The park served as a setting for countless receptions, demonstrations, and performances for New York visitors and residents for decades before it was temporarily closed for the construction of the Brooklyn-Battery Tunnel and Battery Park Underpass beginning in the 1940s. As time progressed, the park was altered and transformed many times, and it now contains many monuments honoring soldiers, explorers, inventors, and immigrants.
Beginning in the 1990’s, feeling the park had been neglected and dilapidated, a group of New Yorkers founded The Battery Conservation to design, build, maintain, and enliven the historic Battery. Now, the park has been viewed as a model of conservation and biodiversity with vast public gardens, organic urban farms, and toxin-free lawns.
Many past studies have indicated the importance of green spaces in regard to mental health; individuals who utilize the natural environment, whether it be for physical activity or leisure, have about half the risk of poor mental health compared with those who do not do so. Especially within an urban environment, the value of spaces such as the Battery are almost incalculable. To be surrounded by such lush and diverse wildlife in the midst of the skyscrapers and concrete is almost a surreal experience — one that cannot be fully understood until you have encountered it yourself.
Join us for our nature programs in parks such as the Battery!
At Treebath, we believe that connecting children to a world without internet could help them to develop a life-long respect for the world we live in. Let your kids explore nature with our forest therapy for the little explorers. Check out more on our website.
