# New York Restoration Project

> NYC nonprofit founded by Bette Midler that plants trees and builds gardens in underserved neighborhoods

Source: https://treerm.org/org/new-york-restoration-project · Updated 2026-11-07 · Data license: CC BY 4.0 (https://treerm.org/about#license)

## Facts

- Type: Nonprofit
- Scope: Local
- Headquarters: New York, New York, United States
- Founded: 1995
- Website: https://www.nyrp.org
- Countries where they plant: United States
- Activity types: Urban forestry (primary), Reforestation, Tree adoption & giveaways, Tree care & maintenance, Education & advocacy
- Trees on record: 200,000 (larger of latest cumulative figure and sum of annual figures; trees planted or distributed)

## About

New York Restoration Project (NYRP) is a New York City nonprofit founded in 1995 by Bette Midler to restore neglected parks and create green space in underserved neighborhoods. It stewards more than 80 acres of parkland in Northern Manhattan, owns and operates more than 50 community gardens, and plants and distributes thousands of trees a year through free tree giveaways, which it has run since 2008. NYRP was the nonprofit partner in MillionTreesNYC and reports planting more than 200,000 trees since its founding.

## Programs

- **Free tree giveaways** — Tree adoption & giveaways (2008–present): Free tree giveaway events for residents in all five boroughs.
- **American chestnut restoration** — Reforestation (2017–present): Plants blight-resistant hybrid American chestnuts in Highbridge Park with NYC Parks and the American Chestnut Foundation; launched the 1,000 Chestnut Challenge in 2025.
- **Northern Manhattan parkland stewardship** — Tree care & maintenance (1995–present): Stewards more than 80 acres of parkland including Highbridge and Sherman Creek Parks.

## Metrics

| Metric | Year | Value | Cumulative | Program | Confidence | Source |
|---|---|---:|---|---|---|---|
| Trees planted | 2024 | 4,500 | no (that year) | organization-wide | Self-reported | [source](https://www.nyrp.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/NYRP-Annual-Report-2024.pdf) 2024 Annual Report: '4,500 trees were planted and distributed, 22 free tree giveaway events were hosted' |
| Trees planted | 2025 | 4,649 | no (that year) | organization-wide | Self-reported | [source](https://www.nyrp.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/NYRP-Annual-Report-2025-.pdf) 2025 Annual Report, 'Our 2025 Impact': 'Planted and distributed 4,649 trees' |
| Trees planted | 2025 | 200,000 | yes (to date) | organization-wide | Self-reported | [source](https://www.nyrp.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/NYRP-Annual-Report-2025-.pdf) 2025 Annual Report, ED letter: 'Since our founding, NYRP has planted more than 200,000 trees' |
| Volunteers engaged | 2025 | 1,200 | no (that year) | organization-wide | Self-reported | [source](https://www.nyrp.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/NYRP-Annual-Report-2025-.pdf) 2025 Annual Report: 'Welcomed 1,200+ volunteers' |
| Trees distributed | 2024 | 75,000 | yes (to date) | Free tree giveaways | Self-reported | [source](https://www.nyrp.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/NYRP-Annual-Report-2024.pdf) 2024 Annual Report: 'giving away more than 75,000 free trees citywide since 2008' |

Confidence: self-reported is the organization's own published figure; independently verified means a third party confirmed it; estimated means TreeRM derived it and the note says how.

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