Project team

Head: W. 117th Streetscape Committee

Partners: Corner Stone Church, Ebenezer Assembly of Christ, Eagle Wings Outreach

Project description and goals

The proposed garden and community market will serve both educational needs and functions of necessity, with the learning lab offering teaching opportunities to youth regarding sustainability and small business, and the garden itself filling space in what has become a “food desert”.  Goals, then, involve investing into the human and social capital of the neighborhood via fostering sustainable and entrepreneurial initiatives, as well as providing communal opportunities that will tighten the neighborhood fabric.

Existing conditions

There are three parcels involved in the project total, with two adjacent parcels (142-25-130 and 142-25-131) located on Naples Ave. and one parcel (142-27-156) located near the intersection of Ohio Ave and E. 153rd St. There is a flat grade in all sites, with the adjacent sites showing safe contamination levels, making it acceptable for garden installation. As well, the single parcel site is in a high visibility location, and thus the proposed urban farmer’s market is feasible.

Proposed interventions

The garden will be a mix of native plantings along the front of the Naples site, with several raised plots created for local food production. In total, 24 plots will be planted, and a gravel walkway will be laid in between allowing safe footing for maintenance, harvesting, etc.  Lining the back of the garden will be picnic tables, and a community gathering greenspace will also be developed along a section of the plot.  With harvesting, a market garden will be installed on the Ohio Ave. site complete with a produce stand and overhead awning.  Regarding food dispersal, the food will be provided at no cost to those most needy, and then at a reasonable cost to all others.  The market serves a gap in the community as many of the aged residents are dependant on costly transportation out of the neighborhood for food.  Moreover, the garden and market will serve as learning labs to the youth in the neighborhood regarding such topics as green practices and small business development.

Site maintenance

Work days will be established so that organization of duties is maintained. Such duties include: debris removal, weeding, creation of raised beds, composting, planting, and harvesting. The market site will need mostly debris removal and weeding.  Small business duties will rotate on a rolling basis, with the project lead responsible for most of the bookkeeping and supply storage as well as coordinating the learning labs for the youth.