Project EverGreen and NYC Parks GreenThumb celebrated a significant milestone on Thursday, September 10, when volunteers and green industry partners came together to renovate Phoenix Community Garden in Brooklyn – the organizations’ 10th community garden renovation project together in New York City.
Located in the Ocean Hill-Brownsville neighborhood, Phoenix Community Garden is a half-acre green oasis created from a formerly vacant lot. The garden provides residents with fresh food, green space and a welcoming place to gather, learn and connect with their neighbors.
The transformation continues Project EverGreen’s GreenCare for Communities mission of bringing together volunteers, donors and community partners to create healthier, greener and cooler communities.
“Reaching our 10th renovation project with NYC Parks GreenThumb demonstrates the power of partnership and the lasting impact healthy green spaces can have on communities,” said Cindy Code, executive director of Project EverGreen. “Together, we’re helping Phoenix Community Garden remain a valuable source of fresh food, environmental benefits and community connection for years to come.”
Phoenix Community Garden demonstrates what can happen when residents take ownership of an urban green space. Gardeners transformed what was once a vacant lot into a productive community resource that is open to everyone.
The garden produces nearly 2,000 pounds of beans, corn, collards, bitter melon, tomatoes, zucchini, herbs and callaloo, providing fresh, culturally relevant food for neighborhood residents.
The renovation will focus on improvements designed to make the garden healthier, safer, more accessible and productive. Planned work includes:
- Improving pathways to provide safer and easier access for visitors of all abilities.
- Removing overgrown brush and trimming trees where needed to improve access, safety and overall plant health.
- Adding new plantings to provide seasonal color, support pollinators and strengthen the garden’s long-term sustainability.
- Enhancing planting beds to increase opportunities for growing fresh food and creating healthier, more productive soil.
“Our community gardens are oases of green within our city, giving New Yorkers a space to connect with the earth and with each other. This transformation of Phoenix Community Garden is a great example of the work we do across the five boroughs to make sure community gardens have the tools and support they need to thrive,” said NYC Parks Commissioner Tricia Shimamura. “We’re grateful to our partners at Project EverGreen for sharing our commitment to cultivating these vital community spaces, and we’re proud to celebrate our tenth garden renovated together.”
The Phoenix Community Garden project extends a partnership that has improved community gardens throughout New York City.
Last year’s GreenCare for Communities project transformed Corona Peach Tree Community Garden in Queens with ADA-friendly pathways, 15 new raised planting beds and approximately 100 pollinator-friendly plants.