Project EverGreen, along with the New York City Parks GreenThumb, landscape professionals, local businesses and residents teamed up on June 12-13 to further the efforts of the volunteer gardeners to make New York City’s Clinton Community Garden a green oasis amid a concrete jungle.
Volunteers including landscape contractors, industry suppliers and neighborhood residents from the Lower East Side came together to complete a two-phase renovation project valued at more than $10,000.
The Clinton Community Garden, one of more than 550 community gardens across the city’s five boroughs, is a source of pride for the neighborhood residents. It serves as a connection point for new and old residents, while promoting the health and environmental benefits that come with green spaces.
“Neighborhoods deserve a healthy community garden and green space that they can call their own,” said Cindy Code, executive director of Project EverGreen. “Thriving gardens create a community hub for neighbors – young and old – to meet and connect in a healthy, cool environment. Vibrant gardens also help instill community pride, create confidence, and establish a learning environment to grow fruits, vegetables and shade plants.”
Specific elements of the project include:
- Installation of new planting beds and adding new soil to the new and existing beds;
- Raise existing beds and regrade site to eliminate standing water;
- Installation of pavers to create a patio for residents to use;
- Installation of a pea gravel path;
- Installation of a shade garden;
- Transplant existing plants into new soil;
- New plantings including ornamental shrubs, flowers and vegetable plants.
“Community gardens are labors of love. Having highly skilled volunteers build paths and patios makes a huge difference in helping these valuable public spaces become accessible to all New Yorkers,” said Bill LoSasso, director of GreenThumb. “We are happy Project EverGreen supported the vision of the gardeners at Clinton Community Garden who have worked hard for years to transform this site into a place for the entire community.”
The project was supported by New York energy supplier ConEdison and the Mount Sinai Health System.
