A memorial that could be tended
The archive records a remembrance garden in front of the 13th Precinct, created to honor officers lost in the World Trade Center attacks. Plantings were revisited around Easter, Memorial Day, September 11 and Christmas, turning remembrance into a visible part of neighborhood life.
2002
Schoolchildren helped it take root
A May 9, 2002 report records Epiphany kindergarten pupils planting the garden with teachers, parents and the Gramercy Park Block Association. The Sakas family of Gramercy Park Florist donated planters, flowers and trees. The garden honored Robert Fazio, Moira Smith and Brian McDonnell.
The May 9, 2002 article places the planting in the preceding week. Its photograph shows children and adults together at the precinct.
Children, neighbors and first responders
Photographs and notices show the garden as a shared undertaking: neighbors, police officers and children participating in plantings and moments of gratitude. A plaque reading “NYPD YOU MAKE US PROUD” gave the small space a clear civic voice.
A relationship carried forward
The garden sits within a wider history of the Block Association’s support for the 13th Precinct and Emergency Service Unit, including annual remembrance gatherings, meals and the Explorers program. They grew from years of working together and returning to remember those who were lost.
2015
Care across the seasons
The April 7, 2015 newsletter recorded the Block Association’s seasonal planting at the precinct and credited Kathleen Scupp with maintaining the garden over the years. The short report linked Easter, Memorial Day, September 11 and Christmas plantings within the same continuing commitment.
A separate memorial inside the Park
The Christmas Grove behind the Ruggles Fountain is another neighborhood memorial, documented in a 2011 Trustees letter. It is distinct from this garden at the precinct.
Sources & historical context
Adapted from the Block Association’s newsletters and event records.