Did you know that New York City is currently home to over 600 community gardens? In an urban setting, community gardens serve as peaceful sanctuaries for gathering, learning, and growing, and residents in NYC want to ensure that these sanctuaries are preserved for years to come. From the New York Times:
Since 2002, community gardens have been regulated by an agreement that designated about 150 gardens for development but preserved or increased protections for about 500 others. That agreement, which was reached after the state attorney general sued the city to block the sale of gardens to developers, will expire in September. Although city officials have said they have no plans to develop gardens, rules proposed by the Department of Parks and Recreation and the Department of Housing Preservation and Development do not include any guarantees of preservation.
Photo by David Goldman for The New York Times.To get the attention of city leaders and other residents, a group of concerned citizens hit the streets on bicycles, dressed in colonial garb, spreading the word about the new rules that could threaten community gardens. The ride ended at Mayor Michael Bloomberg’s home, where they delivered flowers and a placard that read “Dear mayor, please preserve the community gardens.” Read the full article here.
Community gardens in the DUG network have enjoyed the support of city officials for years, but it never hurts to remind just how important urban gardens are to neighborhoods. If you’ve got a minute, email your councilperson to let them know what your community garden means to your neighborhood, and that you appreciate their support of Denver Urban Gardens, and the nearly one hundred gardens in the DUG network.
Denver Urban Gardens
