Cooper Street Community Garden

Sponsored by Rhodebeck Charitable Trust

Founded in 1982, the Cooper Street Community Garden produces a variety of flowers, vegetables and herbs with the help of a group of dedicated gardeners of all ages from the surrounding neighborhood.

Cooper Street Community Garden underwent a complete renovation in 2012. With input from community members, NYRP’s design team transformed the garden, building 19 new planting beds and adding needed features like a garden shed, compost toilet, rainwater collection system, and extra-large barbecue grill.

The garden now boasts shaded benches under a new pergola, picnic tables, and vertical frames for climbing vines around the parameter.  A long stretch of broken concrete, once a tripping hazard for seniors, was removed and replaced with permeable pavers.  Squash, carrots, and collard greens are longtime favorites at Cooper Street. Now, gardeners from the neighborhood’s growing Bangladeshi community are cultivating new foods, like karela (bitter gourd).