The abundance of street trees is one of Myrtle Avenue’s great assets. They don’t just provide shade, they reduce rainwater runoff and absorb greenhouse gasses and other pollutants. To ensure our nearly 300 street trees continue to flourish, we developed a program to outfit many of them with custom designed tree guards and benches.

This program, which launched in 2011 as a partnership with the Pratt Institute’s Design Incubator, has grown to include nearly 100 tree guards and benches on Myrtle Avenue. Each features artwork by local artists, designers, or K-12 students, reflecting Fort Greene and Clinton Hill’s creative spirit.

New decals have gone up on each of the avenue’s tree guards, sharing fun facts with passersby. Some offer insight into Myrtle Avenue’s historical landmarks, others call out the famous writers, athletes, and musicians that have lived here, while others provide facts about the diverse species of trees.

Click below to view some of the new tree guard decals: