P.S. 6 Breaks Ground on Green Roof

This Tuesday ground was officially broken on what is allegedly New York City Public Schools' first green roof (though there's been plenty of planning for similar roofs in the past). The Daily News reports that Eric Dutt, a beloved science teacher at P.S. 6 on the Upper East Side, died in 2007, leaving his dream of the rooftop garden and greenhouse unfulfilled. The roof, called the Eric Dutt Eco Center, will be built throughout the summer and will contain "planting soil for vegetables and flowers, solar panels, a weather station, a turtle pond and a greenhouse for classes during the winter." The school raised funds through selling t-shirts, environmentally-friendly lightbulbs, and even lemonade—though there was also $1 million secured by city politicians.

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By Jen Carlson in News on May 15, 2009 12:18 PM

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Spirit of 76

The teacher died of an enlarged heart. How appropriate. Would that more people had such big hearts. Hurray for the kids and for the memory of the teacher.

r1b2

Jealous, what a terrific thing for these kids to have at school. And what a great tribute to a beloved educator.

r1b2

Jealous, what a terrific thing for these kids to have at school. And what a great tribute to a beloved educator.

whitecastlerock

Thank god! The ozone layer will be saved after all!!!!!! HOORAY

maryjr

This is supposed to be the pilot project. Other schools will follow. And although the city did give the school a large grant, the parents and PS6 alumni did a major portion of additional fundraising through many ticketed evening events.

peanuthead

just what we need, more privilege for the already overly privileged upper east siders!!

hey, i like green roofs and all that jazz, but, seriously given the current state of affairs at so many city schools, i could come up with a vast list of things for which the million dollars and then some could have been applied to rather than a roof-top garden!

sheesh!