Brooklyn's Greenest Block Winners Unveiled: See Who Made The List

BROOKLYN, NY — A Crown Heights block won the Brooklyn Botanic Garden's prestigious annual award for the greenest block.

Filled with blooming flowers, bushes, and more, the green spaces along Lincoln Place between Nostrand and New York Avenues have earned the top spot in the Greenest Block in Brooklyn contest for the third time in the competition’s history.

Residents of Crown Heights snagged both the first and second prizes in the 2024 Greenest Block in Brooklyn competition, the Brooklyn Botanic Garden announced Tuesday.

This year’s winning block, Lincoln Place between New York Avenue and Nostrand Avenue, also clinched first place in 2022 and 2019. The block is maintained by P.L.A.N.T., a gardening committee dedicated to their horticultural efforts.

Since their victory in 2022, Lincoln Place has been actively mentoring groups and individuals interested in community gardening, including the care of tree beds.

Winning means the local block association, P.L.A.N.T., will receive $300 and the prestige of being recognized for their green efforts.

"We are incredibly proud of our block for winning Brooklyn Botanic Garden's Greenest Block in Brooklyn contest for the third time," said Perri Edwards and Althea Joseph, P.L.A.N.T. leadership. "Even if we hadn't won first place, we still would've won because of the connections we built with our neighbors and the community around us throughout the process."

The Greenest Block in Brooklyn contest has been a key part of Brooklyn Botanic Garden’s community greening initiatives for nearly 30 years, fostering both streetscape enhancement and neighborhood unity.

The contest helps communities come together to tackle challenges specific to life in a densely populated urban environment.

This year’s entrants represented over 100 blocks across a broad range of Brooklyn neighborhoods, from Williamsburg to Fort Hamilton and DUMBO to Canarsie, as well as areas like Flatbush, Prospect Heights, Bedford-Stuyvesant, Crown Heights and Park Slope.

Winners were chosen by a panel of judges that included Brooklyn Botanic Garden staff, local horticulture professionals and a group of New York City reporters.

"I’m beyond proud of the more than 100 blocks of Brooklynites who rose to the occasion this year and made it clear yet again: Brooklyn does it best," Brooklyn Borough President Antonio Reynosos said. "Congratulations to this year’s top block in Crown Heights and the many other participants who helped beautify our streetscapes and support native insect pollinators all at the same time."

Eastern Parkway between Bedford and Franklin Avenues in Crown Heights secured second place in the Brooklyn Botanic Garden's contest, while Ridge Boulevard between 71st Street and Ovington Avenue in Bay Ridge took third place.

Other honorees included Park Slope’s Muse Cafe, recognized for “greenest storefront,” and the Maple Street Community Garden in Lefferts Gardens, which received the “National Grid Leadership in Sustainable Practices Award.”

This year introduced new award categories: “Rookie of the Year,” which was given to Agate Court in Bed-Stuy and “Media Darling,” awarded to Eastern Parkway between Bedford and Franklin Avenues, selected by judges from the press.

"It is always wonderful to see the residents of our community come together to spread joy and promote unity with the Greenest Block in Brooklyn project," Public Advocate Jumaane Williams said. "New York needs more community greening programs such as this one to ensure that our future generation knows the endless possibilities of green environments, gardening, and green blocks throughout the city."

The annual contest is open to all residential and commercial blocks, as well as community gardens, throughout Brooklyn.