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New York City Community Gardens Success Stories

Parque de Tranquilidad

Photo: Troy Farmer

On East Fourth Street, TPL secured two-thirds of the lush oasis known as Parque de Tranquilidad from the city in 1999. This summer, thanks to the efforts of TPL and some very generous private donors, the garden's privately owned center lot was permanently protected after 29 years of onagain, off-again negotiations. This minipark is arguably the best example of the design work of the late urban garden pioneer Liz Christy, of the Council on the Environment of New York City. Christy is widely known for starting the first New York City community garden in 1973 at Bowery and Houston streets, now named in her honor. TPL expects to convey the entire garden to the Manhattan Land Trust in 2009.

Parque de Tranquilidad is located on the south side of E. 4th Street between Avenues C & D.

Central Bainbridge Block Association Community Garden

Photo by: Alban Calderon

Drawing from their personal gardening skills, local residents at this Bedford-Stuyvesant community garden take great pride in the wide assortment of fruits, vegetables, and flowers they grow. Established during the 1970s, this garden was once a debris-ridden lot littered with the remains of two demolished buildings. Outraged by neighborhood conditions, a group of concerned residents took action: they cleared the land, fenced the area, and created a small farm. Due to its tremendous success and popularity, the garden was recently expanded into an adjacent lot, which was previously a parking garage. Members take great pleasure in the garden's new gazebo and shaded seating area and are always eager to participate in the wide range of activities held within the garden.

Central Bainbridge Block Association Community Garden is located on Bainbridge Street, at the corner of Patchen Avenue, in the Bedford-Stuyvesant section of Brooklyn and is open from March to November.

To learn more about Central Bainbridge Block Association Community Garden contact Ms. Mary Jones at (718) 455-0736.

Jacquline Denise Davis Garden

Jacquline Denise Davis Photo by: Ken Sherman

Located in the Morrisania section of the Bronx, the Jacquline Denise Davis Garden represents progress and revitalization of a once devastated community. The 14,000-square foot site was formerly an abandoned lot, overwhelmed by rubbish and burdened by a vacant, charred building. The work to convert the site was done during a two-year participatory design and development project with the assistance of the Housing and Open Space Initiative (HOSI). Converted into a picturesque garden, the site now houses a large community vegetable patch, a cedar pavilion with stage, a brick barbecue picnic area, and a children's play area. Additional features include a wishing well and an underground watering system. Of course the garden would not be complete without the personal touch of community volunteers who added flower and vegetable boxes, picnic tables and benches. This garden is a true example of caring residents pulling together and breathing life back into their community.

The Jacquline Denise Davis Garden is located at the corner of Boston Road and East 165th Street in the Morrisania section of the Bronx and is open from April to October.

To learn more about Jacquline Denise Davis Garden contact Ms. Freda Hooper at (718) 589-5886.

Tremont Community Garden

Photo by: Paul Joseph Coppa

This attractive garden, located in the Tremont section of the Bronx, is a favorite spot for many of the area's senior citizens. The garden was started in 1983 by a dedicated area resident with the help of Green Thumb, a division of the Parks and Recreation Department that works with neighborhood groups to create and maintain community gardens. The garden's landscape includes raised planting beds where gardeners grow an assortment of fruits and vegetables and a picnic area. Celebrations for holidays and birthdays are held at the garden, as are regular cookouts, picnics, and neighborhood club meetings. The Tremont Community Garden is also a safe place for local children and teenagers to spend time outdoors and enjoy nature. More information

The Tremont Garden is located at East 178th Street, between LaFontaine and Monterey Avenues, in the Tremont section of the Bronx and is open from April to October.

To learn more about Tremont Garden contact Ms. Elizabeth Butler at (718) 731-7315 or Mr. James Haynes at (718) 294-5740.

Updated 2/2009