Butterfly Garden

The butterfly garden in Washington Market Park is a welcoming stop for thousands of butterflies and other pollinators, some of which are endangered in New York state. The garden provides an educational opportunity for children and adults alike to learn about butterflies, their life cycles and the plants with which they interact.

NYC Parks gardener Richie Haugland developed the master plan for our butterfly garden in the fall of 2016. Funding and support was provided by local families, the NYC Parks Department, Green Below 14 and Partnership for Parks. The butterfly garden was planted in the spring of 2017, and the National Wildlife Federation designated our butterfly garden as a Certified Wildlife Habitat® later that year.