The Assignment
Climate change is a challenge that many designers and creatives have to face in order to create methods of alleviating its accelerated pace. One example of the negative effects of climate change that we looked in class is the decrease of the monarch butterfly population. Each year, the journey of monarch butterflies become more and more rigorous as their food sources, milkweed, are depleting at a rapid rate. For this assignment, we must find deserted lots of land around New York City and its surrounding areas for ideal milkweed seed bomb locations. Then, we plant the seed bombs in those designated locations to help increase the survival of monarch butterflies.
Write-Up
There’s a small vacant/abandoned lot on 128 Hester Street in Lower Manhattan’s Chinatown. The vacant is situated right around the corner from the Hester Street Playground. Before its vacancy, an apartment complex was built there until its removal in 2009 for the construction of the Wyndham Hotel right next door. There was a neighborhood controversy surrounding the destruction of this apartment because the tenets were told to quickly vacate, but were not given any help by the landlord.
Since the location is in one of the oldest Chinatowns in the U.S., there are potential environmental problems that need to be addressed. The struggle for clean air has been a growing issue. Along with the large population density, this area is packed narrow paths that cars and other pollutants tend to stay longer. Not to mention that the vacant plot is also located in a close proximity as one of Chinatown’s busiest streets: Canal Street. Studies have shown that the poor air quality correlates with increased cases of asthma. With the introduction of new pollinators, there is a potential to alleviate some of the air problems that persist in this community. The new pollinators can also have an effect on the neighborhood’s water management by decreasing the run-off of rainwater from carrying pollutants into local water facilities. Just like the natural characteristics of Harlem Meer, the new pollinators can organically filter some of the air in this Chinatown community.
Photo Journey Field Action
