NYC Parks GreenThumb today announced the completion of significant upgrades and renovations at 15 community gardens across four boroughs. They include one new community garden, the Garden of Resilience in Springfield Gardens, Queens, as well as four gardens reactivated with new gardening groups in Prospect Lefferts Gardens, East New York, and Brownsville, Brooklyn.
“Community gardens have remained an indispensable part of the physical and social fabric of New York City for more than 40 years, and in a year like no other, we are proud to have continued our important work that helps these invaluable community gems thrive,” said NYC Parks GreenThumb Director Bill LoSasso. “I am thrilled we were able to complete the rebuilds and renovations of 15 gardens across the city this year despite multiple crises. I would like to thank our volunteer gardeners for their continued stewardship and our Greening Partners for their support, without which many of these rebuilds would not have been possible.”
GreenThumb has continued to support gardens and gardeners with supplies, technical assistance, and needed upgrades despite the ongoing global pandemic. During the course of the year, GreenThumb has delivered over 110,000 plant starts to gardens across the city and assisted in the renovation of 15 community gardens, adding 375+ raised garden beds, two new chicken coops; and over 2,000 cubic yards of compost and soil.
Established in 1978, NYC Parks GreenThumb is proud to be the nation’s largest urban gardening program, assisting over 550 gardens and 20,000 volunteer gardeners throughout New York City. GreenThumb gardens create hubs of neighborhood pride and provide a myriad of environmental, economic and social benefits to the neighborhoods in which they thrive. GreenThumb’s mission is to support and educate community gardens and urban farming across the five boroughs, while preserving open space. By providing free garden materials, technical assistance, educational workshops, and seasonal programs, GreenThumb supports neighborhood volunteers who steward community gardens as active resources that strengthen communities.
For more information about NYC Parks GreenThumb, visit: nyc.gov/parks/greenthumb.