Established in 1996 by local gardeners, the centerpiece of the Essex Street Community Garden is a series of large, raised planting beds enclosed by low stone walls that provide ample space for cultivating vegetables and herbs. Community members use these beds to grow everything from peppers and tomatoes to eggplant and oregano, while additional beds located along the wall and fence bordering the garden are used for ornamental plantings, including two apple, two pear and two peach trees. Crushed gravel paths weave around and between planting areas, which are sustained by a rainwater collection system that diverts stormwater runoff from the sewers of adjacent buildings.

To help ensure the garden continues to serve as an active green space and engages local residents for years to come, New York Restoration Project (NYRP) staff and horticulture crews work with community members to remove trash and provide ongoing maintenance, building assistance and plant material for the garden – including wood for raised planting beds, gardening tools, compost and vegetable seedlings.

This sunny, 3,232-square-foot garden in the Cyprus Hill section of Brooklyn is located within a few blocks of five public schools in a neighborhood comprised primarily of single- and multi-family homes and commercial properties.