The cornerstone of New York Restoration Project (NYRP) mission and work continues to be the restoration and maintenance of our 55 community gardens, as well as the 600-plus community gardens throughout New York City. These are true oases of vegetables and herbs, flowers and tranquility in neighborhoods where concrete otherwise rules. Increasingly, community gardens are functioning as modern-day village greens, urban farms and outdoor classrooms – enjoyed by residents of all ages, with or without green thumbs, and creating a vital network of publicly accessible, open space across the city.
Each year, thousands of schoolchildren and families take part in free environmental education activities in NYRP’s specially designed learning gardens – the Heckscher Foundation Children’s Garden in the Bronx and the Toyota Children’s Learning Garden, Home Depot Community Garden and Riley-Levin Children’s Garden in Manhattan. Here and at other NYRP and NYC Green Stops locations, a multitude of programming is available – including educational workshops like Yo Seed Grow, Dig It! and Garden Eco Blitz. In addition, NYRP hosts After-School Garden Clubs and other seasonal events include gardening workshops, Fitness Fridays, NYRP Volunteer Corps, Summer Sustainable Series and Garden Grooves at many of NYRP’s revitalized community gardens throughout the five boroughs.