Abandoned for many years, this garden – like so many forgotten spaces in New York City – once suffered from neglect and an ever-growing accumulation of garbage and debris. Then, in 2001, New York Restoration Project (NYRP) installed a fence to protect the space from future dumping and joined local community members to create a 3,000-square-foot mini-park, which features a colorful playscape constructed in conjunction with KaBOOM! – a national non-profit organization whose mission is to create play spaces within walking distance of every child in America.

Accentuated by a variety of flowers, bushes, vines and vegetable-planting containers, Creston Jungle now primarily functions as a children's playground for local students, many of whom attend P.S. 79 located just down the block. In a neighborhood whose streets used to serve as the only available play area, the garden provides a safe and protective green space for schoolchildren and community members to engage with and learn about the outdoors. Beautiful ornamental plantings decorate the front and sides of the garden, tables are used for community picnics and benches throughout provide restful seating for parents and elderly neighbors. Creston Jungle gardeners also partner annually with NYRP to host a hugely popular movie night for families, part of NYRP’s wide array of community garden programming.

Located in the Fordham section of the Bronx, the Creston Jungle Playground is surrounded by multi-family residences in a neighborhood whose residents have been identified as suffering from high rates of asthma.