Woman Crush Wednesday: Nina Kaufelt and the “Care & Beauty” Theory of Neighborhoods
On West 9th Street, small acts of care have led to remarkable change. Thanks to the efforts of longtime Village resident and volunteer Nina Kaufelt, the humble tree bed, those rectangles of soil surrounding our street trees, has become a symbol of how beauty, attention, and collective effort can transform a neighborhood block.
Tree beds, as Nina points out, are unsung heroes of city life. They anchor trees that offer shade, oxygen, and habitat, while their porous soil captures stormwater that would otherwise flood city sewers. When properly maintained, they also add beauty to our streetscapes, framed by elegant ironwork and planted with flowers or greenery that change with the seasons.
Unfortunately, too many of these spaces go neglected — too small for the trees they hold, trampled by pedestrians and dogs, or simply left barren and littered. But Nina and her neighbors on West 9th Street saw a chance to change that.
“When a public space is neglected, people neglect it. When a public space is cared for, people show care,” Nina says.
That simple but powerful idea — what she calls the “care and beauty” theory of neighborhood improvement — has guided the West 9th Street Block Association’s tree bed renovation project, which has now become a model for other blocks in the Village.
With a clear process and a few reliable local vendors, the group has developed an effective system for expanding and beautifying tree beds. Each project requires coordination among three specialists: an arborist to assess and prepare the site, a metalworker to craft historically appropriate fencing, and a gardener to plant, mulch, and maintain.
The result: a healthier urban canopy, less storm runoff, and a visually unified streetscape that makes a strong impression on every passerby.
Each renovated bed costs about $5,000; money the block raises through general donations and a creative plaque program that allows contributors to dedicate a tree bed in someone’s honor. The plaques, simple and elegant, remind all who pass that the beauty of our neighborhoods is sustained by the generosity and care of its residents.
“Tree beds are highly visible,” Nina says. “When they’re in spiffy condition, they make a good impression on hundreds of people every day.”
Through projects like this, neighbors don’t just plant trees — they plant pride. The care poured into one corner of a block spreads outward, inspiring others to participate, to tend, and to take ownership of their shared environment. The group has successfully found other local partners and have renovated tree beds in collaboration with Trinity Church on East 9th Street and the Jefferson Market Garden.
As Nina notes, “None of this was my idea, nor did I run the project — I just joined in.” But her passion for sharing what works has become its own kind of leadership, embodying the very spirit of community stewardship that defines our neighborhoods.
Care and Beauty: A Shared Mission
At Village Preservation, we believe that preservation isn’t just about landmarked buildings or historic facades — it’s about nurturing the everyday spaces that give our neighborhoods life. Nina Kaufelt’s work with the West 9th Street Block Association shows how simple acts of care can strengthen both our environment and our sense of community. Nina has developed a thoughtful, practical template that she’s generously sharing with the public, making it easy for anyone to launch a similar neighborhood project using her collected tools, guidance, and experience. She can be contacted for more information here.
Projects like these remind us that the historic character of our neighborhoods is not only something to be protected, but something to be lived — one tree bed, one block, one neighborly gesture at a time.