As reported earlier this month, Two Coves Community Garden in Astoria, Queens, is at risk because the Parks Department and Goodwill Industries have forced a design for a city park on 75 percent of the garden’s space.
Because the Garden could be facing its final chapter, the dedicated gardeners are afraid that their unique space will become a city park although there are already two large parks, Astoria and Rainey, within walking distance. As Gardener and Astoria Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) President Stacy Ornstein points out, “We want the garden to maintain its ability to allow local resident the opportunity to garden and grow together.”
Other gardeners were overheard saying that community gardens are known to increase property values, provide access to healthy food and serve youth as an outdoor classroom. No one would volunteer to be interviewed about the situation.
City Councilman Peter Vallone Jr. (D-Astoria) has now allocated $450,000 to create the park at the site. He could not be reached for comments, but his secretary said that the city has agreed not to begin any work at the site until after this year’s harvest season.
Queens Parks Department Commissioner Dorothy Lewandowski said the agency would hold meetings with Astoria residents and Two Coves gardeners this summer to discuss plans for the site.
Gardening season at Two Coves runs from April 1 to November 1.
I liked this story a lot. You had a lot of good information in your presentation , too. I think it’s really important that people try to salvage these community gardens, because they really represent a movement towards a more “green” lifestyle. there is nothing more green and earth friendly than being able to grow and eat your own food. without them, NYC would be all concrete and buildings…
I agree with you entirely. Too many neighborhoods are losing the community feel that Jacobs wrote about. Meagerly sprinkling grass in a plaza doesn’t make for a park. It’s about the people. They need to preserve that garden, and I hope it works out for them.