Daffodil Project Doubles in Size on 20th Anniversary of 9/11 to Honor Lives Lost During COVID-19 Pandemic
Daffodil Project Doubles in Size on 20th Anniversary of 9/11 to Honor Lives Lost During COVID-19 Pandemic
Two decades after its launch memorializing New Yorkers lost during 9/11, NYC’s largest volunteer program doubles in size, with nearly 1 million daffodil bulbs available to plant across all five boroughs. New awareness campaign also unveils new Daffodil Project design created by celebrated visual artist Michael De Feo.
Pictures and the new design are available here. (PHOTO CREDIT: New Yorkers for Parks.)
August 2, 2021 (New York, NY) – New Yorkers for Parks today announced it will distribute nearly 1 million daffodil bulbs to volunteers across New York City, doubling the program that launched two decades ago in honor of the victims of 9/11.
Twenty years since the Daffodil Project launched, this year’s expansion will also honor the lives lost as a result of the global COVID-19 pandemic. More than 400,000 volunteers have planted over 8 million daffodils in New York City parks and open spaces since its inception.
“The Daffodil Project represents communal healing and recovery, which has been needed now more than ever as our city emerges from another devastating crisis,” said Adam Ganser, Executive Director of New Yorkers for Parks. “This annual effort is an important memorial to those we’ve lost, and yet also reminds us of how we can grow and heal together. We’re proud of the Daffodil Project’s legacy and ongoing commitment to making our green open spaces more beautiful, accessible and meaningful to New Yorkers.”
Over the course of the next few months, the project will undertake its massive volunteer planting effort with a focus on bulb plantings in under-resourced parks and communities. This year’s project is the largest ever—New Yorkers for Parks nearly doubled the number of daffodil bulbs to almost 1 million from 500,000 across the five boroughs, mobilizing 50,000 volunteers.
As part of its anniversary, the Daffodil Project launched a creative awareness campaign featuring a new design by Michael De Feo, a New York City-based artist celebrated for his floral paintings and urban art. The new design will be featured on more than 100 bus shelters with 36 digital signs and 80 print signs across the city.
De Feo’s work speaks to the inherent allure of the natural world and often employs flowers as symbols of beauty and reminders of our ephemerality. De Feo collaborated with New Yorkers for Parks to create an expressive daffodil design that will appear in public locations city-wide starting this summer.
“It is an honor to work with the Daffodil Project to create an image that I hope will help bring awareness to the work that New Yorkers for Parks does to beautify our city,” said artist Michael De Feo. “My work often reflects the cycle of life. The flower I’ve created is a tribute to lives lost and a celebration of the rebirth of the city after a period of darkness and tragedy.”
New Yorkers for Parks has also partnered with New York Forever, a non-profit organization dedicated to creating a stronger future for all New Yorkers, to promote the Daffodil Project’s 20th anniversary.
“Time and again New Yorkers have shown resilience when faced with a crisis. The Daffodil Project is a singular volunteer effort that reflects the strength of our city, bringing individuals together to support the parks and open spaces that have been crucial for the mental and physical health of so many communities over the past 18 months,” said Risa Heller and Jonathan Rosen, co-founders of New York Forever. “There’s something special about seeing the daffodils emerge each year, symbolizing healing and renewal. We’re proud to partner with New Yorkers for Parks on a project that honors the lives lost to COVID-19 and 9/11 while supporting the recovery of NYC. ”
To learn more about the Daffodil Project, including how to register or where to find daffodil plantings, please visit ny4p.org/daffodil.
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About New Yorkers for Parks
For over 100 years, New Yorkers for Parks (NY4P) has built, protected, and promoted parks and open spaces in New York City. Today, NY4P is the citywide independent organization championing quality parks and open spaces for all New Yorkers in all neighborhoods. www.ny4p.org
About Michael De Feo
For close to 30 years, Michael De Feo has been creating floral-inspired paintings and street art. De Feo’s work has been exhibited at galleries and museums worldwide and his monograph, Flowers, was published by Abrams Books in 2019. De Feo’s studio is located in Manhattan.
Instagram: @theflowerguy