Our newest garden restoration is the Carroll Street Community Garden, three blocks from the infamous Gowanus Canal in Brooklyn. Generously sponsored by Jo Malone London (an Estée Lauder company), the new garden is also a pilot site for the NYC Department of Environmental Protection’s new Green Infrastructure Grant Program. Together with our partners and the community, we will create a garden that will be as functional as it is beautiful – this new pocket park will include features to capture the tens of thousands of gallons of storm water that frequently flood this neighborhood.

This green infrastructure will be the first of its kind in an NYC community garden. In addition to storm water control, the design will include greenery that will be engaging, beautiful, and low maintenance. The new Carroll Street garden will also be a living classroom for local schoolchildren to learn about storm water and biology. NYRP has commenced the design process with the local community, gardeners, and partners. We will share designs and more photos from this latest restoration project in the months ahead.

We've been Tree-cycling! Through MULCHFEST2012 and our Community Gardens, we've collected hundreds of discarded Christmas trees to recycle for reuse as mulch.

Highbridge Park
Our crews at Highbridge Park are involved in mapping significant gaps in the forest canopy. The series of devastating storms over the past two years have taken a big toll on natural areas around the city. This mapping project is a small part of our response and will be used to monitor the forest and plan for its restoration since we have completed clearing the majority of the downed and damaged trees in Highbridge Park.

East Harlem
Last Friday, our crew completed paving work in the El Cataño Community Garden requested by community members. While we were at it, we added this new, long raised bed to replace smaller planters—now they can grow even more vegetables, herbs and flowers this summer. According to an active community member the finished product is receiving “rave reviews” on the block.

El Cataño Community Garden 

East Harlem Community Meeting: Winter Planning
All East Harlem Community members are also invited to attend our winter planning meeting this February. We’ll be turning local needs and ideas into plans for this spring.

Who: Open to all East Harlem community members

Where: Patsy’s Pizza, 2287 First Avenue (between 117 St & 118 St)

When: Friday, February 17 | 6:00 pm