A unique viewing garden, named the Concept Garden, features dozens of ideas for the visitor to bring home and replicate. Designed by Barbara Feldt for the Hudson River Park Trust (HRPT) and delivered in the spring of 2006. Product donations were secured, the Greenacre Foundation lent its continued support, and native plants from www.native-garden.com were all set thanks to the NYC Environmental Fund grant.

But in June, landscaping planting commenced but the plants delivered for the Concept Garden were not allowed to be planted. The irrigation system was installed prior to the planned structures being erected; the stone pathway, wall, and pond had to be nixed. One word...union...tells you the reason for months of confusion, redesign, cancellation of orders, angst, and having to turn away hard-won donations.

The garden is there. Thanks to Connie Fishman, president of HRPT, I am thrilled to have been a part of it. Here is the original plan. Over four months after the garden was scheduled to be installed, I was allowed on the pier (hardhat and all) to place the plantings and install what I could before it opened to the public. Without any signage, it still shows ideas, attract wildlife, and tells a story. The garden will continue to be cared for by the community and, as it began back in 1995 at the western end of the pier, to be a shining example of what volunteerism can accomplish.

The Concept Garden is located at the entrance of Pier 84, in the northeast corner. Pier 84 is on the Hudson River, on the west shore of Manhattan at the end of West 44th Street.