Time Landscape

Time Landscape. . , Alan Sonfist, an environmental artist born in 1946, envisioned Time Landscape as a homage to the lost forests of Manhattan, first conceptualized in 1965. Collaborating closely with local communities, Sonfist meticulously delved into New York's botany, geology, and historical records of the site. Finally, in 1978, this collaborative effort bore fruit, transforming a 200 × 40 site at La Guardia Place as West Houston Street into a living forest. Utilizing native trees, shrubs, grasses, flowers, rocks, and earth, they recreated a pre-colonial forest that once thrived on the site, offering a dynamic representation of Manhattan's landscape during the early 17th century as experienced by Native Americans., Time Landscape serves as a vivid portrayal of the three stages of indigenous forest growth in New York: from native grasses and flowers to saplings and finally to mature trees. The southern part of the forest showcases red cedar trees and hazelnut shrubs adorned with wildflowers, while in the center, a small grove of beech trees, rescued from a neglected childhood forest in the Bronx, stands amidst red cedar, black cherry, and witch hazel. Moving towards the northern area reveals a mature woodland dominated by oaks, interspersed with white ash and American elm trees, alongside a diverse array of other species. Sonfist's original vision aimed to resurrect not only the ancient forests but also the rivers and marshlands that once adorned the city, imbuing it with the historical vegetation that thrived before colonization., Situated on city-owned land initially designated for Transportation, Time Landscape is now maintained by the Parks department under the Greenstreets program. Established in 1986 and reinvigorated in 1994, Greenstreets endeavors to convert paved areas into green spaces, with funding sourced from the Parks and Recreation's capital budget. Volunteers play a pivotal role in preserving these areas, ensuring their cleanliness and the health of the planted vegetation. This collaborative effort underscores the significance of community involvement in preserving and enhancing urban greenery for present and future generations.