• Willis Avenue Community Garden

    This 9,063-square-foot garden—encompassing four city lots—was originally founded in 1997 by members of the nearby Congregational Church of North New York and local residents.

    Generous support from the Perlman Family Foundation, in memoriam of Lilian and Abraham Perlman, endowed a transformation, which includes the construction of a new pergola, shed, steel picket fencing, 24 new raised planting beds, expanded butterfly garden, and more. In addition, NYRP’s partnership with TEN Arquitectos, Buro Happold and Urban Air Foundation, generated a unique kit-of-parts design for a modular casita.

    Currently a popular garden for neighborhood celebrations, the space provides a rare green space for education, agriculture and entertainment. The community’s largely Puerto Rican heritage is visible right on the new, state-of-the-art casita where two large flags proudly hang.

    The renovation also added two permeable paver patios, compost toilet, mulched picnic area, regraded lawn, and understory plants surrounding the garden’s border, pathways and birch trees, including hardy passion vine and prairie dock, whose large, lush leaves and color evoke a tropical theme and celebrate the Puerto Rican culture.

    Watch the transformation unfold in this time lapse video.

    Address

    378 Willis Ave.
    The Bronx, New York (Mott Haven)

    Hours

    All NYRP community gardens hold a minimum of 20 open hours per week. Please check the bulletin board at the garden for times and details.

    Garden Size

    9,063 sq ft.

    Amenities

    Compost toilet, performance space, covered shelter, lawn, barbeque grill, free book-share box

    Activities

    Composting, gardening, picnicking

    Get Involved

    Contact us if you’d like to learn more or join the garden.

    Get Involved

    Use a Garden

    Host your next public event, celebration or program outdoors. Reserve an NYRP community garden for free.

    Learn More