Established in 1982, this small, 1,646-square-foot, well-used garden has – for many years – served as a local oasis for neighborhood seniors and provides a quiet place for informal gatherings, cookouts and birthday celebrations.

In 2007, as part of their Green for Good campaign, the smash Broadway production of Wicked provided funding to renovate the Friendship Garden with a wildly imaginative and fantastical design provided by the show’s Associate Scenic Designer, Edward Pierce. In anticipation of the opening of this community treasure, Wicked organized a benefit performance – providing free tickets to neighborhood residents who attended the garden’s planning sessions. All other proceeds from the performance continue to help support the garden’s ongoing maintenance.

Echoing themes of the Land of Oz – and as portrayed in the Broadway production – the Friendship Garden features unique Oz-inspired lampposts and fencing, a poppy-painted mural, a "yellow brick" path, an "emerald" granite patio, a spiral-twisted stone barbeque and two new street trees in front of the space. The revitalized garden is also lush with plant life – including a variety of roses, lilies, hostas and hydrangeas. Finally, a wishing well – located in the middle of the garden – symbolizes that a community working together, as one, can truly make any wish come true.

Wicked cast members and NYRP Founder Bette Midler hosted a special garden opening on Wicked Day, October 28, 2007, culminating a month-long celebration of Green for Good events in New York, Boston, Chicago, Los Angeles and London. As part of the day’s festivities, thousands of visitors and community members gathered along 150th Street to enjoy performances, food and refreshments, and costume contests and also learned how to live green through a series of interactive, eco-friendly exhibits.

Located in Harlem, the Friendship Garden is situated within five blocks of several schools in a neighborhood whose residents are primarily of Hispanic and African-American descent.