A guided walking tour centered on the botanical, social, and political history of Tompkins Square Park. The walk mapped the park’s tree canopy in real time, highlighting some of the oldest trees in New York City while situating them within broader historical use of the site, including its role as a Civil War encampment, protest ground, and long-standing public commons.

The program combined on-site observation with historical research, tracing planting eras, species longevity, and moments of conflict and occupation that have shaped the park over time. Participants moved through specific locations within the park, using trees as anchors for understanding how public space, ecology, and civic life intersect. A printed zine was produced as a supplement to the walk, compiling research, maps, and archival material for participants to reference beyond the event. The project was supported by sponsors and documented by The New York Times, placing the walk within broader conversations around urban history, public space, and stewardship.

Tompkins
Square Park
Walk

Tracing History
Through NYC Parks

A guided walking tour centered on the botanical, social, and political history of Tompkins Square Park. The walk mapped the park’s tree canopy in real time, highlighting some of the oldest trees in New York City while situating them within broader historical use of the site, including its role as a Civil War encampment, protest ground, and long-standing public commons

A woman standing outdoors next to a large tree, smiling, wearing a dress with large floral print, holding a notebook, in a park with people and tables in the background.

Photography
Krista Schlueter

Project Type
Historical Walk

Location
East Village, NY

Press
NY Times

Year
2025

The program combined on-site observation with historical research, tracing planting eras, species longevity, and moments of conflict and occupation that have shaped the park over time. Participants moved through specific locations within the park, using trees as anchors for understanding how public space, ecology, and civic life intersect.

A printed zine was produced as a supplement to the walk, compiling research, maps, and archival material for participants to reference beyond the event. The project was supported by sponsors and documented by The New York Times, placing the walk within broader conversations around urban history, public space, and stewardship.

Green spiral notebook with a logo of trees and text reading 'The Arboreal Historical Society of New York City' on a weathered green wooden surface.
Group of diverse people gathered outdoors, smiling and engaged, with some wearing sunglasses, casual clothing, and carrying backpacks. A woman holds a dog, and others are standing under a brick structure.
Two hands touching the bark of a tree with graffiti written on it, with green foliage in the background.
A group of people walking through a park, led by a woman in a white dress with large pink and red floral patterns, holding a paper, with trees and greenery around them.
Woman looking through binoculars outdoors with trees and a blue sky in the background.
Woman in a white dress with floral patterns reading a booklet in a park with trees and people walking in the background.
A group of diverse people standing outdoors beneath green trees, looking up, with some wearing sunglasses and casual clothing, in a sunny park or recreational area.
A smiling woman with wavy brown hair, wearing a floral sleeveless dress and a necklace, standing on a city street reading a map.
A person's hand holding a bright green tote bag with black logo and text, set outdoors on a sunny day with trees and a park pathway in the background.
A diverse group of people attending an outdoor event in a park, some holding drinks, with lush green trees in the background.
A woman in a white dress with large pink and red flower prints walking on a sidewalk, smiling, with several people in the background and green trees overhead.
An older man with gray hair and round, dark sunglasses stands outdoors in bright sunlight, holding a green notebook and a pamphlet, with trees and a park in the background.
A woman standing on a city sidewalk, leaning against a tree trunk and a street pole, wearing a long dress with large pink, red, and orange floral prints, and white sneakers. There is a street crossing and a traffic light in the background.
Three people walking outdoors on a sunny day, two women and one man, engaged in conversation, with green trees and buildings in the background.
Two women hugging each other and smiling, surrounded by other people outdoors on a sunny day in a park.