About the Project

Cultivating Community at Phoenix Community Garden

The Phoenix Community Garden in Brooklyn is 1/2 acre of green goodness in the Ocean Hill/Brownsville section of Brooklyn. Phoenix gardeners have changed a formerly vacant lot into a pastoral space where community members come together to make their garden grow. The garden is open to all members of the community. The Garden grows nearly 2,000 pounds of beans, corn, collards, bitter melon, tomatoes, zucchini, herbs and callaloo to feed the neighborhood.  The Garden provides fresh food, green space, and community to folks in Ocean Hill-Brownsville.

As the site of Project EverGreen’s 10^th community garden renovation project in New York City the garden will receive thoughtful improvements that will help it thrive for years to come. Planned enhancements focus on healthier soil, safer and more accessible pathways, refreshed planting areas, and functional community spaces where members can gather, learn, and share harvests.

Previous GreenCare for Communities projects have included Liberty Island (2014), Neighbors of Vega Baja (2017), Clinton Community Garden (2018-19), Jackie Robinson Community Garden (2020), Carolina Community Garden (2020), Wishing Well Community Garden (2021), Bradhurst Garden (2022), Pappa and Momma Jones Historical Garden (2023), Joe Holzka Community Garden (2024) and Corona Peach Tree Community Garden (2025).

Why Green Spaces Matter in NYC

New York City’s dense neighborhoods need healthy green spaces to balance the built environment. Community gardens like Phoenix Community Garden deliver outsized benefits for residents and the city as a whole:

• Cleaner air and cooler blocks: Trees and plants capture pollutants and lower street-level temperatures, reducing urban heat island effects during summer heat waves.
• Stormwater management: Rain gardens, soil, and permeable areas soak up stormwater, helping reduce flooding and easing pressure on the city’s drainage system.
• Public health and wellbeing: Access to nature is linked to lower stress, improved mental health, and more opportunities for everyday physical activity.
• Food access and education: Community plots provide fresh, culturally relevant produce and hands-on learning for youth and adults.
• Biodiversity and pollinators: Native plants and flowering beds support bees, butterflies, and birds – critical for a resilient urban ecosystem.
• Community cohesion and safety: Shared stewardship fosters neighbor-to-neighbor connections, volunteerism, and pride of place, which can positively impact neighborhood safety.
• Climate resilience and equity: Green spaces make neighborhoods more resilient to extreme weather and deliver environmental benefits that support NYC’s broader equity goals.