The Trees of Randall's Island
An interactive map visualizing the trees of Randall's Island Park.
Randall's Island Park is home to over 5000 trees. These trees provide homes for wildlife, oxygen for the atmosphere, shade for those watching a soccer game, among many other benefits. The Randall's Island Park Alliance (RIPA) has gathered the information on this page to provide a background on the trees that can be found on the island, and their benefits to the New York City community.
Species distribution of the most common inventoried trees on Randall's Island.
The trees of Randall's Island broken down by Diameter at Breast Height (DBH) Class.
Over a span of 20 years the trees of Randall's Island will provide millions of dollars worth of benefits to the community. This is due to positive environmental impacts such as:
- carbon dioxide uptake - An estimated 2 million+ pounds of carbon will be sequestered, helping to combat the growing threat of climate change by removing this greenhouse gas from our atmosphere.
- storm water mitigation - Over 68 million gallons of rainfall will be intercepted, reducing the risk of flooding events and erosion, helping preserve the infrastructure of the park and its surrounding areas.
- air pollution removal - Over 21,000 ounces of carbon monoxide will be absorbed from the air, helping to ensure cleaner and healthier respiration for both park visitors and residents of the communities neighboring the island.
Summary of benefits provided by trees on Randall's Island.
Furthermore, as part of its ongoing efforts to foster the growth and overall health of a new generation of urban forest on the island, RIPA has been using this inventory to analyze the diversity and maturity of tree species featured throughout the park. This has enabled the team to identify certain young, often non-native tree species that are in overabundance, which may threaten the long-term health of park.
By strategically targeting these trees for removal, the team is also opening up valuable canopy space, and will continue planting new trees in their place, with the specific goal of planting a more diverse array of native tree species that will live longer and provide an even greater percentage of the eco-system benefits highlighted here. With patience and dedicated stewardship, the Randalls Island Park Alliance will ensure that these young trees grow to maturity, providing a lasting positive impact for future generations of park patrons and community members alike.
