By Lisa Kava
The West 72nd Street Block Association will be holding its third annual Community Volunteer Day on Saturday, October 19th from 9 a.m. – 11 a.m. The rain date is Sunday, October 20th. Volunteers are needed to plant daffodil bulbs, help with tree care, and to clean up tree beds on West 72nd Street between Columbus and Amsterdam Avenues, and between Broadway and West End Avenues. This year volunteers will also be “giving the street a sweep,” according to a press release.
Volunteers will meet at the “West 72nd Street Welcome Table,” in Verdi Square (72nd Street and Broadway,) directly in front of the 1,2, and 3 lines subway station. Volunteers should bring their own gardening gloves, garbage bags, garbage pickers, and gardening tools.
For the first time, the West 72nd Street Block Association will be partnering with the Broadway Mall Association, the non-profit that helps plant and care for grasses and flowers in the medians on Broadway. Members of the Broadway Mall Association will share their knowledge about how to plant and keep tree beds clean.
Donations of gently used clothing, particularly mens clothing and shoes, and women’s pants would be appreciated as well. The block association is in the process of working with other community groups to get clothing donations to those in need.
Advance registration for the Community Volunteer Day is helpful, but not required. To register and learn more email w72streetblockassociation@gmail.com.
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Please do this on all the cross streets.
LOL. Does that mean you will be volunteering?
Taking down the scaffolding would be my first priority to beautify any street/avenue.
My child and I would love to help but who on earth keeps gardening tools handy in Manhattan?
I am from the West 72nd Street Block Association and we welcome you and your family to plant with us! We have tools to share and look forward to seeing you. Please kindly rsvp to w72streetblockassociation@gmail.com. We look forward to seeing you!
West 72nd Street is an ongoing hot mess. Why?
Property Owners are required to maintain the sidewalks, tree beds and gutters in front of their buildings free of garbage and other unsanitary conditions, including animal (rodent and canine) waste.
Dining sheds without approval under the new design regulations have to be removed by Nov. 1.
The Block Association could do a major service by getting the City to enforce existing regulations. Rather than soliciting volunteers – including children -to do Property Owners’ work for them.
You are right that business owners throughout the West 70’s are failing to keep their sidewalks and treewells clean including 18 inches into the curb as required by law! That is why the West 71st Street Block Association is working with other groups including elected officials and the Sanitation and Health Departments to increase sanitation enforcement. We see trash as the biggest problem in the area. We just worked with Community Board 7 to have letters sent to many businesses in the West 70’s outlining the responsibilities of businesses under NYC Sanitation Laws. We have urged other block associations to follow up by visiting in person with a copy of that letter and other flyers of introduction. Let’s ask them to work with us and let them know we are watching!
Our Sanitation supervisors did a walk-through with us and have increased enforcement. Additionally, legislation is being proposed by Councilman Bottcher so that businesses can be ticketed all day for violations instead of just two one-hour periods a day.
Yes, our neighborhood is a mess and business must be held accountable and be good neighbors!
“city too broke to pay sanitation department, asks for volunteers to do the work”
There fixed the headline for you