September 27, 2016
New Yorkers for Parks and the National Park Service (NPS) are honoring the 15th anniversary of 9/11 by planting three thousand daffodil bulbs on Ellis Island as part of the NY4P Daffodil Project. The planting will take place on Friday, October 14th from 9:00 am to 12:30 pm. The Project started in the fall of 2001 to serve as a living memorial to the lives lost in the attack, and to offer hope and beauty to the grieving city. Since then, over six million free bulbs have been planted citywide by more than 100,000 young students, parks and gardening groups, civic organizations, corporate volunteers and other New Yorkers. The Daffodil Project is one of the largest volunteer efforts in the city’s history.
Joining NY4P and NPS at the planting will be 36 volunteers from Ernst & Young as part of their “EY Connect Day” program, where employees volunteer with classrooms, community centers, and nonprofits such as NY4P.
“This is the perfect way to celebrate the resilience and perseverance of New Yorkers,” said Tupper Thomas, Executive Director of New Yorkers for Parks. “When spring comes to New York, visitors to Ellis Island will see Lower Manhattan - once the site of unbelievable destruction, now full of vitality - while surrounded by thousands of bright yellow daffodils symbolizing hope and renewal. It’s a testament to the power of New Yorkers, and the power of our parks.”
“As the National Park Service celebrates its centennial anniversary, the Daffodil Project is a great way to connect New Yorkers with more of their parks,” said Joshua Laird, Commissioner of the National Parks of New York Harbor. “Ellis Island symbolizes hope, freedom, and opportunity. And for the 12 million immigrants that passed through its doors, it was a new beginning. The national parks belong to the public and are places where people can go to not only connect with nature and history, but also to find companionship, healing, and hope. We are grateful to New Yorkers for Parks for bringing this program to Ellis Island.”
In 2007 Mayor Michael Bloomberg named the daffodil the official flower of New York City, stating, “The Daffodil Project makes the City a more beautiful place every year, and brings us all together by serving as a living memorial to the victims of September 11th."
For more information contact Megan Douglas at 212-838-9410 ex.310, or mdouglas@ny4p.org