By Kate McNeil

CORRECTION APPENDED

She calls it the "secret garden" project but the idea at its core - city children need more nature - is no secret.

Riverdale resident Elizabeth Mayer is on a campaign to turn playground asphalt to grass; fences to flowers; and cement to soil. New York City's children need to reconnect to nature, she says, and develop a sense of stewardship.

She is appalled that some city schools lack even a blade of grass for their students to play on. In fact, the city Department of Education's 2005-2009 Capital Plan calls for $16 million in funding to convert parking lots to playgrounds at 10 city schools.

Like any grassroots project, Ms. Mayer's is starting small. For the past few months, she has collaborated with the Riverdale Presbyterian Church Nursery School to create a natural oasis of herbs and flowers in its playground.

On April 11, Ms. Mayer, a clinical social worker, and her 7-yearold daughter Tamar visited a class for 3-year-olds to plant sunflowers.

"The kids love to get dirty," Ms. Mayer said, as she helped the toddlers pat down the soil.

"Don't forget to talk and sing to your plants because they need your carbon dioxide," she told the children.

Earlier in April, she helped the 4-year-olds' class plant basil, marigolds and roses. Outside, next to the proposed herb garden sits a compost bin, where students throw their banana peels and apple rinds.

"I want them to develop into people who care about the environment," Ms. Mayer said. "We need to start early."

Ultimately she wants to transform the playground into a natural sanctuary that will inspire imaginative play and bring kids back to nature.

To boost the project's funding, she is applying for grants from Keen, an outdoor footwear company and Cedar Works, a manufacturer of wooden play sets, which she hopes will replace plastic play sets. But she's also hoping local elected officials will get in on the action.

And she won't stop there. Her goal is to bring nature to all city children through her secret garden project.

Next year, she said, she will "continue to network and develop partnerships with other organizations, and to work with the children as they participate in creating their own magical garden."

CORRECTION

An earlier version incorrectly stated that Elizabeth Mayer is a practicing psychologist. She is a clinical social worker.