The Vision

The map below shows the location of existing community gardens in Coney Island. Each garden will act as a hub for community activity. During the school year the gardens could serve as an educational tool for the schools. Revitalizing the gardens would provide the educational enrichment the community has been asking for. If and when community capacity grows, the creation of a jr. Friends of Kaiser park friends would provide a mechanism for youth-led stewardship. These junior stewards would use science curriculum enrichment developed in the Environmental Education recommendation, and to grow seagrass to support the living shoreline for the revitalization of Kaiser Park.

The YMCA is located next to the Multicultural garden. In the multicultural garden, the community could grow spices and herbs that are culturally relevant. Connections could be fostered by facilitating a recipe exchange.

The Santos White Community Garden is close to the public library so it would make a good meeting place for the garden's stewards. In this garden they could grow flowers, tea, and a dye garden. This would provide the library with new engagement opportunities and draw more children to the space.

Figure: Locations of Existing Community Gardens in Coney Island

Why it Matters

This program would address a number of concerns that were raised by community members, including:

• Lack of youth spaces and opportunities 

• Lack of long term framework for community resilience

• Want for consistent community engagement   

How it works

1. Consistent bi-weekly meetings where community members maintain space

2.  Long term the garden will be a food source 

3. Students at local elementary schools will be stewards during the academic year

4. YMCA clubs will establish a summer stewardship program 

Resources

• Seeds

free/ suggested donation 

https://www.robingreenfield.org/communitypack/

https://www.freeheirloomseeds.org

• Training
  Grow NYC School Garden program 

https://www.grownyc.org/school-gardens

• Maintenance
  Apply for grants to get new equipment

https://kidsgardening.org/grant-opportunities/youth-garden-grant-25/

How to Get it Done

Short term: The first goals would be to create excitement around the space starting with a community care day. Next request more Pop’s workers. POP stands for Parks Opportunity Program. This program could help address the need for a more diverse job market. The program has a 6 month turn over with a 6 month on 6 month off cycle, training for other positions is available.   

Medium term: Harvest herbs and spices, this could be used to create a cultural exchange program at the YMCA. In this group recipesare shared and how to make use of the whole plant. An important next step would be to document the work being done to be later used for grant application and to maintain volunteers. Set up a composting system to create a self reliant garden.Applying for more funding will help insure continued maintenance is a core goal.  

Long term: Bringing new job prospects because of specialized training passed on through learning exchange from garden managers. The hope is to create a framework that mitigates the Coney Island food insecurity while also being a source of community pride. Well functioning gardens mean an established base for organizational structures to manage Objective 5.

The idea is that the community would establish their own protocols for the management of the gardens and then request more POP’s workers. This would mean Coney Island community members are already trained for the positions. With the programs 6 month turnover it could be the perfect chance for residents to get experience in a new job market while also getting career advisement.

CINRC will act as facilitators. For each host a manager will be picked along with a community coordinator, and volunteer coordinator. Managers will be incharge of short term goals and upkeep of the gardes. Community coordinators will incharge of documentation and communication. The gardens media team. Volunteer coordinators will be incharge of programs for volunteers. Managing the larger goals of the community and  Local elementary and middle schools ,YMCA, Coney Island Public Library would serve as hubs for the community to share gardening and healthy eating tips.

Next Step: Create a Community Care Day

Establish a day when as a community Coney Island comes together to maintain their public spaces. Together the community will create a checklist for each of their public spaces upkeep.One weekend a month the community will gather and go through their check list of monthly maintenance.