Established in 1980 and originally named Iglesia Pentacostal Arca de Salvacion, this 2,300-square-foot garden was transformed over four, blistering summer days in 2002 by volunteers from Ground Force – a BBC America television production – and New York Restoration Project (NYRP) staff. In preparation for the garden’s re-design, NYRP construction crews performed demolition and grading procedures on the site, cleared debris and garbage, and installed various hardscape features. As a result of Ground Force and NYRP’s restoration efforts, espaliered pear and apple trees now line the walls along the garden’s sides, and benches, tables and chairs accommodate community activities.

One of NYRP’s most well-used spaces, this beloved garden is opened and closed every day by dedicated community residents, many of whom grow tomatoes and other fruits and vegetables there, including peppers and eggplant. Since 2007, a group of developmentally disabled adults from AHRC’s Adult Day Services program has volunteered in the garden, helping to beautify the site by picking up trash, pulling weeds and sweeping pathways.

The site is also a lively gathering spot for families, members of a nearby daycare center and local workers on lunch breaks. Featuring a casita – a structure common to Puerto Rican gardens that includes a small porch for community activities and storage space – this shared green space provides a picturesque setting for barbecues and many other gatherings. In addition, the neighborhood hosts three annual street fairs, with the garden providing a focal point for these celebrations.

In 2007, the Dorothy Strelsin Memorial Community Garden received a generous grant from the Dorothy Strelsin Foundation to add a performance area – which includes seating and a bluestone patio – and storage space, both located at the back of the property. Commissioned by NYRP, photographer and furniture designer Eric Slayton – in collaboration with Susannah Drake of dlandstudio and Annette Wilkus of SiteWorks, LLC – worked with community members and NYRP staff to create a versatile design that accommodates both performance and community needs. Construction is currently underway, with the addition scheduled to open in late 2009.

Part of a large number of community gardens that form a network of green spaces on the Lower East Side of Manhattan, the Dorothy Strelsin Memorial Community Garden is situated among one- and two-family homes, multifamily apartments and commercial properties whose diverse residents are of Asian, Anglo and Hispanic descent. There are also four schools located within five blocks of the site.