Brooklyn’s Greenest Block Winners Unveiled — See Who Made The List

BROOKLYN, NY — For yet another year, a block in Crown Heights has taken home the title of Brooklyn’s greenest block, awarded by the Brooklyn Botanic Garden’s long-running annual contest.

Lined with street trees and vibrant plantings—even amid constant traffic—the stretch of Eastern Parkway between Bedford and Franklin Avenues was named this year’s winner of the Greenest Block in Brooklyn competition.

It’s a historic win: this is the first time in the contest’s 29-year history that a block made up primarily of apartment buildings has earned the top honor, officials said.

The block, maintained by the Crown Heights Keepers Block Association, was recognized on Tuesday for creating a standout community space rooted in gardening, greenery, and neighborhood pride.

For nearly three decades, the Greenest Block in Brooklyn contest has been a key part of the Brooklyn Botanic Garden’s mission to promote community greening. The competition not only encourages more beautiful streetscapes but also helps bring neighbors together to tackle the unique challenges of urban life.

Winners receive cash prizes and official recognition certificates to display on their block, while all participants are eligible for a fall bulb giveaway and a certificate of participation.

This year’s contest saw entries from more than 100 blocks representing neighborhoods across the borough, including Downtown Brooklyn, Flatbush, Bay Ridge, Bedford-Stuyvesant, Crown Heights, Park Slope, and others. A panel of judges—made up of BBG staff, trustees, and local horticulture professionals—selected the winners.

This year, second place was awarded to Jefferson Avenue between Lewis and Stuyvesant Avenues in Bedford-Stuyvesant. Third place resulted in a tie between two blocks: Ridge Boulevard from 71st Street to Ovington Avenue—which also earned the award for Best Street Beds—and MacDougal Street from Thomas S. Boyland Street to Rockaway Avenue in Ocean Hill.

Several other awards were handed out across specialty categories.

• Greenest Storefront: Sugar’d, a Caribbean restaurant at 2614 Newkirk Avenue
• Best Commercial Block: Ralph Avenue between Prospect Place and Park Place in Crown Heights
• Best Community Garden Streetscape: Lincoln Road Garden
• Best Window Box: A Canarsie location
• Rookie of the Year: MacDougal Street from Thomas S. Boyland Street to Rockaway Avenue

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