Transforming Medians Into Gardens
The Broadway malls are made up of hundreds of small gardens, each housing a rich variety of plant life and distinctive design style, shaped by its own conditions, character, and history. Historically, these gardens reflect generations of planting: century-old trees cast shade, while seasonal plantings bring color and texture throughout the year.
Today, through The Great Green Way, these gardens are being reimagined with native Northeast plants. Carefully selected for each mall’s unique microclimate, these plants support pollinators, provide food and habitat for birds, improve soil health, and require less water and maintenance over time. With deep root systems that absorb stormwater and store carbon, native plantings strengthen the ecological function of each space — turning individual gardens into a connected, resilient corridor along Broadway.
The demanding conditions of being a garden in a 20-foot-wide median bordered by six lanes of traffic provide plenty of challenges for our horticultural staff! Yet, our team’s careful selection of plants results in displays that delight passersby with whimsy and surprise, no matter the season. Take a seat at one of our benches and enjoy the show.
150th Street Pollinator Garden
In Spring 2024, Broadway Mall Association planted a dedicated pollinator garden at 150th Street — designed to support butterflies, bees, and other essential pollinators. Planted with the help of community volunteers, this space uses native species selected for their ability to provide nectar, shelter, and seasonal food sources.
The malls are situated in a critical space between Riverside Park to the west and Central Park to the east. The Pollinator garden strengthens that link, supporting pollinators whose populations are under pressure while bringing visible life and movement into the landscape.
BMA is part of the Pollinator Pathway, an organization working to establish pollinator-friendly habitat and food sources for bees, butterflies, hummingbirds and other pollinating insects and wildlife.
Birds on the Malls
The Broadway malls provide vital habitat for both migratory and resident birds, offering food sources such as insects, seeds, fruit, and nectar. Species like robins, cardinals, warblers, woodpeckers, and hawks can all be found along the corridor, using the malls as a stopover or home within the city.
To better understand this impact, BMA is partnering with NYC Bird Alliance to study bird and insect activity on the malls. This research helps measure how the restored malls support wildlife — and how The Great Green Way can continue to grow as a bird-friendly urban corridor.
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