Burnt infrastructure, a garden block, a closed space. This all changed. I am about to tell you the story of the United We Stand Garden. This is a community garden born from the ashes of adversity. It stands as a testament to resilience and unity in the Mott Haven neighborhood of the South Bronx.
The United We Stand Garden wasn’t always the verdant space you see today. Once, this area hosted four separate community gardens. They were El Flamboyan, Sunflower Garden, St. Luke’s Park, and United We Stand. For over two decades, these gardens thrived. Hundreds of residents cultivated flowers, grew food and built community.
Tragedy struck when a fire swept through the neighborhood. It devastated the gardens. The City was forced to close the area. It lay dormant, filled with debris and memories of what once was. Efrain Estrada, a community garden member, felt the loss deeply. He said it felt like a piece of himself was gone.
But from the ashes, hope emerged. In 2016, the NYC Parks Department’s GreenThumb program began a massive rebuilding effort. They cleared thousands of pounds of debris with help from the Department of Sanitation. The Mayor’s Office of Environmental Remediation provided clean fill material. Over 100 tons of debris was removed. 60 tons of metal were also removed. 300 cubic yards of clean fill were provided.
GrowNYC joined the effort. They built over 100 garden beds, a performance stage, murals, tables and benches. Volunteers poured their hearts into the project. They transformed the space. In the fall of 2016, the new United We Stand Garden and 138th Street Community Gardens were complete.
Today, United We Stand Garden is a vibrant 32,500 square foot space. It features over 80 raised beds. There is a stage, a gazebo, and plenty of seating. The garden is a place for urban agriculture. It is an inviting outdoor hub for the community. A large public art piece called The Watcher adorns the fence along 138th Street.
The garden is more than just a green space. It is the heartbeat of the community. It enhances quality of life. It improves health and overall well-being. It strengthens the neighborhood.
Efrain Estrada proudly proclaims that people from the neighborhood say it’s beautiful now. The community is proud of what they have accomplished. They transformed a desolate space into a flourishing garden. United We Stand Garden stands as a symbol. It represents what a community can achieve when they come together.