BRONX
The result of an extensive collaboration between Blue Dahlia, school administrators, and parents, the Spuyten Duyvil School represented a unique opportunity for us. Established as a library in 1894 and one of the oldest educational buildings in the city, the school grounds exist now as both an aesthetic exercise and a teaching opportunity that helps young students connect with their natural environment. Trees, shrubs, and perennials were selected for their high wildlife value, fast growth rate, and tolerance for pre-existing conditions such as poor soil. 100 years ago this site was also part of the Tibbet’s Brook watershed. Runoff flowed into Tibbet’s Brook approximately two blocks away, where it was cleaned by cattails and wet meadows before entering the Harlem River. Rainwater is also collected from the school house roof, deflected from sewer drains, and collected in repurposed olive barrels for use in garden irrigation. When it rains, a small stream of water flows along the school's walkway from Kingsbridge Avenue into a shaded rain garden composed of a Weeping Willow, Smooth Joe Pye Weed, Golden Alexanders, and White Turtleheads. We look forward to the Spuyten Duyvil campus remaining a place of learning and beauty for generations to come.