50 Trees Find New Home in Hudson River Park

CHELSEA, NY — Fifty new trees are arriving by an unusual path to their new home in Hudson River Park. The trees were formally part of an art installation at the Westbeth housing complex, which closed in November. Once the exhibition closed, the trees endured a long journey, one by one, to the parklands, according to Friends of Hudson River Park.

The "One — One Planet One Future" exhibition was created by the Time Shrine Foundation and photographer Anne de Carbuccia. It was located in the Westbeth Artists Housing, a historic complex that contains a last remnant of the original High Line rail. The exhibition showcased trees planted along the empty, desolate stretch of tracks.

The exhibition "powerfully depicts what we have and what we may lose," the website says.

When the exhibition closed, the Time Shrine Foundation reached out to Friends of Hudson River Park to help find a new, safe home for the trees.

A horticultural team came in, assessed the livelihood of the trees and identified which trees were healthy enough to be transported. Then, a transportation company was called in to perform the move—complete with a crane sling and a truck ride.

Every tree was transported on its own to the nursery. One by one, each tree was carefully placed in the crane's sling, lowered into the truck bed and transported to the Pier 40 nursery, where the trees stayed until they were ready to be replanted.

Horticulturists recently begun planting the trees throughout Hudson River Park, including the Tribeca and Greenwich Village sections, and the Habitat Garden in Chelsea.

"In the seasons to come, we look forward to watching our new greenery grow, and we’re grateful that such an environmentally engaged community continues to put down real roots in our Park," said Friends of Hudson River Park.

Photos courtesy of Friends of Hudson River Park