YONKERS, NY — November 2, 2026 — New apartment buildings aren’t the only things reaching for the sky in Yonkers, these days. Scores of native trees are thriving and growing tall in a microforest that has taken root on a grassy slope on the western side of Barack Obama School for Social Justice.
“Going from seedlings to trees that are almost six feet tall in two years—that was the whole point of the microforest. Having all of these plants compete with each other will make them grow faster,” said teacher Zack Stelzner. His environmental studies students care for the urban oasis, which is thriving two years after being planted.
The nonprofit organization Groundwork Hudson Valley helped students choose more than 370 native plants for the 1,000-square-foot plot along North Broadway.
“To achieve green space, a mature forest, within 20 years rather than the century that it would take otherwise, that was the goal,” Groundwork manager Christina Weiler said. “The way that you do that is by choosing a small space with the right soil conditions, and introducing a plant community that loves to grow together and would have grown together on this land before. That basically creates the environment that these trees would grow in naturally, which signals to them to grow fast, strong and tall.”
Walk down a narrow path in the middle of the fledgling forest, and one will rub up against many specimens: white oak, chestnut oak, red maple, black tupelo, sassafras, eastern white pine and butterfly milkweed. After two years, the trees stand as tall as an adult. In time, the microforest will evolve into a self-sustaining ecosystem with four layers: a tall canopy, a middle level of shade-loving trees, shrubs and ground cover.
Students are learning about the many benefits of a microforest in an urban setting. A microforest can reduce flooding and erosion, clean pollution from the air, provide shade and lower temperature, and provide habitat for insects and animals. Mr. Stelzner points out an added bonus—a quiet, relaxing space during recess.
Groundwork Hudson Valley hopes to plant more microforests at other schools across Yonkers.
