By Queens Gazette Staff
September 21, 2023
New Yorkers for Parks announced the distribution points and times for this year’s Daffodil Project, which as New York’s largest annual volunteer program gives people across New York City daffodils to plant as a living memorial to honor New Yorkers lost to 9/11 and COVID-19. Since the Daffodil Project’s inception in 2001, over 400,000 volunteers have planted more than 9 million daffodil bulbs.
Throughout two decades of bulb distributions, plantings and perennial blooms, the Daffodil Project’s mission has grown. Today, the project serves to honor the victims of September 11 and the COVID-19 pandemic, to catalyze citywide parks stewardship and civic engagement, and to advance New Yorkers for Parks’ call for 1% of the city budget for NYC Parks. It is also a celebration of how New Yorkers champion parks equity and resilience in their communities.
“The Daffodil Project is an opportunity for New Yorkers to come together and create a beautiful, living memorial for those we’ve lost, sparking healing, togetherness, and joy,” said Adam Ganser, Executive Director of New Yorkers for Parks. “Flowers, parks, and natural spaces have a significant impact on our quality of life, and New York’s city government must follow through on the Mayor’s verbal commitment to increase spending for the Parks Department to 1% of NYC’s annual spending.”
This year’s daffodil distributions in Queens will take place on the following dates between 10:00am-1:00pm:
To learn more about the Daffodil Project, including where to find daffodil plantings and the best times to plant, links to volunteer with distribution, and received bulbs, visit ny4p.org/daffodil.
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.
NY4P’s Daffodil Project is the largest volunteer effort in NYC history. It is a living memorial to the victims of September 11 and COVID-19, a platform for parks stewardship and civic engagement, and a celebration of the New Yorkers championing parks equity in their communities. Established in 2001, the Daffodil Project is now in its 22nd year.
“The Daffodil Project helps both beautify our community and honor the memory and mission of community leaders, such as teachers at PS41 like Mrs. Geri Cilmi, who taught local students to love science, respect nature, and to always work towards a world that promotes conservation,” said Jessica Burke, Founder and President of Friends of Crocheron & John Golden Park. “Last year, volunteers planted 1,200 bulbs around the park, and we’re excited to work with the Daffodil Project to bring that joy to the community again this year.”
“The Daffodil Project is a reminder of how crucial parks are to New Yorkers’ quality of life and the urgency of boosting NYC Parks funding to 1% of our city budget to ensure parks are safe, clean, and accessible for everyone. I’m proud to support the Daffodil Project with $10,000 in discretionary funding to bring our community together and also help raise awareness about the importance of investing in our parks,” said Councilmember Shekar Krishnan, Chair of the Parks Committee.
Read the article online at Queens Gazette