Originally founded in 1994 by the primarily Hispanic residents of this bustling neighborhood in the Morrisania section of the South Bronx, the NYRP Members’ Garden is busiest in the spring and summer months, when vegetable growing is at its zenith. Situated across the street from Melrose and Jackson Houses – two New York City Housing Authority developments – much of the garden’s annual harvest is distributed to the elderly and in-need within the community. Students from P.S. 29, located just around the corner from this green space, also participate in planting and tending the garden’s vegetable beds – helping to grow tomatoes, squash, eggplant and peppers.

In 2005, New York Restoration Project (NYRP) Founder Bette Midler designated this 2,500-square-foot space as the NYRP Members' Garden and established a donor fund to provide for significant capital improvements, including an ornamental fence, attractive walkways and picnic benches for neighborhood gatherings, a new gazebo and shed equipped with garden tools, a rainwater harvesting system and fertile new soil for planting beds.

In collaboration with NYRP horticulture and design crews and local residents, garden designer John Starky provided the design for and installed all of the hardscape for this newly renovated community gem, including building the site’s rod-iron fence, new sidewalk, retaining walls, patio and ramp.

To demonstrate our appreciation for those NYRP members whose generous donations supported the site’s restoration, NYRP’s horticulture team inscribed the name of each donor into paving stones, which have been incorporated throughout the garden’s innovative design. In addition, NYRP staff beautified the site by planting perennials and woody trees and shrubs – ensuring that the garden continues to flourish each year with blossoming flowers and colorful foliage.