Project EverGreen, the national nonprofit devoted to creating a greener, healthier, cooler Earth; the New York City Parks GreenThumb, landscape professionals , local businesses and residents teamed up on June 12-13 to further the efforts of the volunteer gardeners to make New York City’s Clinton Community Garden a green oasis amid a concrete jungle.

Volunteers including landscape contractors, industry suppliers and neighborhood residents from the Lower East Side came together on a rainy morning to complete a two-phase renovation project valued in excess of $25,000.

The Clinton Community Garden, one of more than 550 community gardens across the city’s five boroughs, is a source of great pride for neighborhood residents. It serves a connection point for new and old residents as they bond over gardening and other social activities, while promoting the health and environmental benefits that come with green spaces.

“Neighborhoods deserve a healthy community garden and green space that they can call their own,” says Cindy Code, executive director of Project EverGreen. “Thriving gardens create a community hub for neighbors – young and old – to meet and connect in a healthy, cool environment. Vibrant gardens also help instill community pride, create confidence, and establish a learning environment to grow fruits, vegetables and shade plants.”

Specific elements of the project included:

• Installation of new planting beds and adding new soil to new and existing beds
• Raise existing beds and regrade site to eliminate standing water
• Installation of pavers to create a patio for residents to use
• Installation of pea gravel path
• Installation of shade garden
• Transplant existing plants into new soil
• New plantings including ornamental shrubs, flowers and vegetable plants

“Community gardens are labors of love. Having highly skilled volunteers build paths and patios makes a huge difference in helping these valuable public spaces become accessible to all New Yorkers,” says Bill LoSasso, Director of GreenThumb. “We are happy Project EverGreen supported the vision of the gardeners at Clinton Community Garden who have worked hard for years to transform this site into a place for the entire community.”

The project was supported by New York energy supplier ConEdison and the Mount Sinai Health System.

“As cities rise in popularity as a destination for individuals and families alike, residents – myself included – increasingly ascribe outsized premiums to those communities with access to, and the initiative to maintain, functional, high quality green spaces,” said neighborhood volunteer Ari Schottenstein.

Contributing Partners

• Artisan Garden Landscape Construction
• CAST Lighting & Landscape
• Clinton Community Garden Club
• EdgeTite
• EP Henry
• FMC
• Glenwood Mason Supply
• GST International
• Midtown Lumber
• Plant Detectives
• Solu-Cal
• Turf’s Up Radio

Since 2006, Project EverGreen has renovated more than 50 community parks across the country as part of its GreenCare for Communities initiative. Municipal parks and recreation departments and/or community groups can nominate a park for revitalization. Once selected, Project EverGreen works with green industry professionals and suppliers, local businesses, community groups and volunteers to transform and sustain community green spaces.