October 14, 2026
Greenery in a Concrete Jungle
By Quinn Dwyer
By Veralyn Vislocky
When people think about New York City, most people’s minds automatically go to the Statue of Liberty, Times Square, and all of the skyscrapers in Manhattan. No one’s first thoughts are about the parks and nature, which really bring people together. Neighbors who would’ve never interacted with each other making conversation while maintaining their lawn and plants, while kids make new friends in parks or try a new sport in a field are some examples of new relationships forming just because of this. Everyday hundreds of people go to parks in the city, whether it’s to hangout with friends, play on the playground, or just admire the scenery. Even when walking around there’s trees everywhere, huge bushes, flowers and more plants people have put their time and energy into caring for in this so-called “Concrete Jungle”.
The flowers’ importance are very clear to me in this picture since they’re surrounding something as sacred as a religious statue.
These images show how just a field can bring in so many people, people who can now bond over a sport they love together and have a community.
The nature in the city has a great influence on people. Whether it’s giving them a sense of purpose by allowing them to cultivate their own plants, making friends, or just giving them somewhere to walk through and admire the scenery, nature is very important. In a place that’s admired for its impressive buildings and busy lifestyle, things like parks are overlooked.
