Jamaica's Sutphin Boulevard Gets A Makeover

JAMAICA, QUEENS — A mile-long stretch of Sutphin Boulevard just got a makeover.

Volunteers joined forces with workers from the non-profit Horticultural Society of New York to clean and mulch tree pits along Sutphin from Foch Boulevard to Brinkerhoff Avenue as part of a larger initiative to beautify Jamaica streets.

"Clean streets and sidewalks are part of building welcoming, vibrant communities," City Council Member Adrienne Adams, who represents Jamaica, said. "Business districts and residents deserve no less."

The Horticultural Society of New York beautifies public spaces in low-income communities and provides at-risk youth and formerly incarcerated individuals with gardening jobs.

"This spring, we’ve been visiting Sutphin Boulevard to clean, weed and mulch around Sutphin’s street trees," the Horticultural Society's David Snyder said.

"Members of our transitional jobs program have worked alongside neighborhood volunteers to beautify the street, improving the environment for neighbors, while helping out Jamaica’s lovely shade trees," he added.

Adams funded the Sutphin Boulevard project using the council's budget for environmentally-focused programs, known as Greener NYC.