East Side Gets Newly Expanded Community Garden Amid Green Space Push

UPPER EAST SIDE, NY — A monthslong push to get more green space for the park-starved Upper East Side has now borne fruit, in the form of a spruced-up and enlarged community garden.

Officials gathered Friday to cut a ribbon at the Lexington Houses Community Garden on East 98th Street between Park and Lexington avenues, which has been expanded and renovated with new plantings, pathways, seating, social spaces and a rainwater collection system.

The garden is within the campus of the NYCHA Lexington Houses — technically across the border into East Harlem — and open to NYCHA residents and nonresidents alike.

Friday's opening comes amid a campaign to create more public space on city-owned lots around the East Side, led by City Councilmember Julie Menin, whose district ranks 47th out of 51 citywide by acreage of park and playground space, according to a 2015 study.

It's the first victory for a campaign that began with disappointment: a recent grassroots push aiming to open a garden on an abandoned First Avenue lot ended with the lot being sold to a developer, who quickly filed plans to build a 24-story tower there.

"I’m thrilled to be able to have led a vital community project that improves green space in the district," Menin said in a statement.

Renovations at the Lexington Houses garden came together within a remarkably short timeframe, by city government standards. Shortly after being elected last fall, Menin met with Parks Department leaders, who pointed to the garden as a green space in need of revitalization, according to her office.

After partnering with nearby tenants and the urban gardening program GreenThumb, work began this spring and wrapped up within weeks.

Menin, who previously told Patch she was putting together a list of city-owned properties that could accommodate community gardens, is still at work identifying other possible spaces in the neighborhood, according to a spokesperson.

"Alfred Austin says to nurture a garden is to feed not just the body, but the soul," said Christina Johnson, president of the Lexington Houses Resident Association, quoting the bygone English poet.

"Julie Menin has been one of the driving forces nurturing this garden. I am truly grateful for the support that she has given us in this venture and with her continued support we will be able to feed the body and souls of many of our residents and neighbors," Johnson added.

Related coverage:

• UES Garden Dreams Dashed As Empty Lot Is Sold To Developer
• Menin Plans New School, Open Spaces & More As UES Council Member