Drawn to a vibrant splash of color, you’ve arrived at ENY Success Garden. This isn’t just any garden, but a 40000 square foot testament to community resilience.
Once neglected, ENY Success Garden in East New York, Brooklyn, was revived in 2010. New management breathed life back into its soil. The largest community garden in East New York occupies half a city block.
Imagine this space in disrepair. For years, it lay unattended. GrowNYC stepped in, undertaking a major rebuilding project in 2015. Their work transformed the space.
GrowNYC staff rebuilt the stage and gazebo. They built new picnic tables and garden benches. A large 10000 square foot garden area was created for the adjacent Brooklyn Gardens Elementary School. The colorful additions signaled a revival. The neighborhood knew their garden was ready for future use.
The garden’s story goes back decades. It functioned successfully as a community hub for years. In the early 2000s, it started to decline. The 2010 revival was a turning point.
NYC H2O and volunteers joined forces to clean up ENY Success Garden. They prepared it for the spring season. Gloves, garbage bags, and pickers were provided. The community worked together.
The City Parks Foundation supports learning gardens like ENY Success Garden. They foster a love of science and nature. They target kids living in under-resourced communities.
The Learning Gardens program provides hands-on lessons. Elementary and middle school kids learn during the school year. Group programs continue in the summer. Kids learn community gardening. They grow food. They understand urban biodiversity.
High school students can participate in the Learning Gardens Training Program. It is a five-month program of garden-based learning. Topics include organic gardening and food justice. They also learn about urban sustainability. Students develop leadership skills.
The Learning Gardens Groups Program is science-based. It offers youth opportunities to understand urban gardens. Hands-on lessons cover garden maintenance and science-based activities. Students practice horticultural techniques. They learn about community gardening. They learn about growing food and healthy eating.
Solar panels at the Learning Gardens are making them even greener. The new off-grid solar installations and battery storage expand environmental programming. They increase capacity in garden maintenance and food crop production. This makes it possible to provide beautiful open green spaces. The gardens also provide more free fresh food to local community members.
ENY Success Garden is under the jurisdiction of NYC Parks. It is supported by GreenThumb. GreenThumb is the nation’s largest urban gardening program.
Consider joining, starting, or supporting a community garden. Contact NYC Parks GreenThumb. Your involvement can make a difference.
So, as you leave ENY Success Garden, remember its story. It is a story of decline, revival, and community. The garden is a testament to what can be achieved with collective effort. It stands as a symbol of success.