Founded in 1981 as part of a Police Athletic League program, Paradise on Earth has – for more than two decades – attracted a dedicated group of local gardeners who use the space to grow a variety of herbs and vegetables, including tomatoes, peppers, squash, beans and basil. In addition, gardeners host picnics, barbecues and block parties in the garden, which contains a large, Caribbean-themed mural; a gazebo; picnic tables; and large trees that provide shade for these and other neighborhood gatherings. The garden also features a casita – a structure common to Puerto Rican gardens that includes storage space and a small porch for community activities – as well as well-established fruit trees, including apple, pear and cherry.

Cement paths run between the garden’s many vegetable beds and chicken coops. Local gardeners raise hens for eggs and have hosted chicken-care workshops, including one co-sponsored in 2007 by New York Restoration Project (NYRP) and Just Food, a non-profit organization dedicated to promoting a fair and sustainable food system in New York City.

This large, 12,995-square-foot garden encompasses three lots and is situated at a busy corner in the Hunts Point section of the Bronx. In this community of primarily Hispanic residents, the surrounding neighborhood is a mix of industrial facilities, commercial buildings, single- and multi-family residences, and transportation and parking areas. There are also two schools located within four blocks whose students often visit Paradise on Earth to engage with and learn about the outdoors.