Rolling Stones Keyboardist Plants Urban Forest

The nation's largest city is getting a little greener as Rolling Stones keyboardist Chuck Leavell, New York Giants wide receiver Amani Toomer and local school children team with the New York Restoration Project (NYRP) to help transform a long forgotten Bronx park into a budding urban forest.

In 1904, a small swatch of land along the Bronx River became Bridge Park. Used as a dumping ground for decades, the area sat desolate and forgotten until NYRP stepped in a year ago. Founded by Bette Midler, NYRP restores, develops, and revitalizes under-resourced parks and community gardens in New York City.

New York City Department of Parks & Recreation Deputy Commissioner Liam Kavanagh will join Leavell and Toomer to put some finishing touches on the park's rebirth by planting trees and shrubs, as well as sprucing up the riverside space.

Leavell is more than just a talented musician. He's a dedicated tree farmer and author of Forever Green: The History and Hope of the American Forest as well as his new book, Between Rock and a Home Place. On Charlene Plantation, Leavell's working forest in Georgia, he tends to more than 2,000 acres of land.

"Being able to bring the beauty of the forest to the Bronx is something truly special," Leavell said. "I always love sharing my passion for trees with children, especially those who have little experience with the forests."