Central Brooklyn Community Gardens Get $3M Renovation

BEDFORD, STUVESANT, BROOKLYN — Community gardens in central Brooklyn will get a $3 million makeover, officials announced Thursday.

Twenty-two community gardens in Bed-Stuy, Bushwick, Brownsville and Clinton Hill will be renovated as part of a $1.4 billion wellness initiative focused on areas plagued by "chronic social, economic, and health disparities," Governor Andrew Cuomo announced Thursday.

The $3.1 million will fund renovations in eight gardens — including shade structures, new raised beds, solar installations and upgraded comfort facilities — and direct water connections for 14 others, all of which is expected to be completed by fall 2019, officials said.

“Community gardens provide critical opportunities for healthier lifestyles," Cuomo said. "These vital improvements made in 22 locations are going to connect residents to the outdoors and gathering spaces, and create access to the immeasurable benefits of open space.”

These community gardens will see renovations:

Aberdeen Street Community Garden
Neighborhood: Bushwick
Address: 91 Aberdeen St.
Funds: $900,000

Williams Avenue Community Garden
Neighborhood: Bed-Stuy
Address: 88 Williams Ave.
Funds: $500,000

Hull Street Community Garden
Neighborhood: Bed-Stuy
Address: 145 Hull St.
Funds: $500,000

Decatur Community Garden
Neighborhood: Bushwick
Address: 1052 Decatur St.
Funds: $100,000

McLeod’s Community Garden
Neighborhood: Brownsville
Address: 130 Liberty Ave.
Funds: $100,000

Bedford-Stuyvesant Community Garden
Neighborhood: Bed-Stuy
Address: 95 Malcolm X Boulevard
Funds: $100,000

Greene Acres Community Garden
Neighborhood: Clinton Hill
Address: 322 Franklin Ave.
Funds: $100,000

Target Community Garden
Neighborhood: Bed-Stuy
Address: 931 Bedford Ave.
Funds: $100,000

These community gardens will receive $50,000 for direct water connections:

• Heckscher Foundation Children’s Garden at 134 Scholes St.
• Madison St. Community Garden at 974 Madison St.
• Essex St. Community Garden at 3030 Fulton St.
• Concerned Citizens of Grove St at 72 Grove St.
• St. Johns Place Renaissance Garden at 1642 St. John’s Place
• Garden of Hope at 392 Hancock St.
• 1100 Block Bergen Street Block Association Garden at 1107 Bergen St.
• Heaven’s Gate Garden at 169-171 Hart St.
• Patchen Ave Garden at 49 Patchen Ave.
• Jane Bailey Community Garden at 327 Greene Ave.
• United Herkimer Garden Club at 97 Herkimer St.
• Westbrook Memorial Garden at 1233 Pacific St.
• Hendrix St. Community Garden at 532 Hendrix St.
• Sheffield Garden at 673 Sheffield Ave.

Photo courtesy of Bea Karnes/Patch