Discovering the Community Gardens With Manhattan Sideways
Discover the hidden gems of Manhattan on the side streets – this is our tagline and this is exactly what we have been doing for the past two years. Walking the side streets, we have had the pleasure of discovering the unknown wonders that decorate our city –restaurants, businesses, stores, and gardens. Manhattan Sideways launched in 2012, and we continue to explore Manhattan each and every day in hope of gaining a different perspective and giving exposure to the places that otherwise go unnoticed. Our site can be used to virtually navigate the sidestreets of New York, to prompt the viewer to go out and grasp the opportunities that this magnificent city has to offer.
Since the 1970’s, vacant lots dotted throughout the city have been cultivated, bringing beauty to a side street while also gathering people together. Several of the gardens are subdivided into small plots of land, allowing individuals to grow their own flowers, fruits, and vegetables. Below is a small sampling of gardens within lower Manhattan, but at our website, Manhattan Sideways, you are sure to find many more photos and gardens to traverse. We have selected a few of our favorites, within close proximity of one another, in the hope that this post might provoke you to further look at our site, and to visit these truly gorgeous community gardens that rest quietly in the East Village of New York.
In order:
Albert's Garden - 16 East 2nd Street
Kenkeleba Sculpture Garden - 212 East 3rd Street
El Jardin - 311 East 4th Street
Creative Little Garden - 530 East 6th Street
6 B/C Botanical - 624 East 6th Street
Green Oasis - 372 East 8th Street
9th Street Community Garden - 144 Avenue C
La Plaza Cultural - 632 East 9th Street
Since the 1970’s, vacant lots dotted throughout the city have been cultivated, bringing beauty to a side street while also gathering people together. Several of the gardens are subdivided into small plots of land, allowing individuals to grow their own flowers, fruits, and vegetables. Below is a small sampling of gardens within lower Manhattan, but at our website, Manhattan Sideways, you are sure to find many more photos and gardens to traverse. We have selected a few of our favorites, within close proximity of one another, in the hope that this post might provoke you to further look at our site, and to visit these truly gorgeous community gardens that rest quietly in the East Village of New York.
In order:
Albert's Garden - 16 East 2nd Street
Kenkeleba Sculpture Garden - 212 East 3rd Street
El Jardin - 311 East 4th Street
Creative Little Garden - 530 East 6th Street
6 B/C Botanical - 624 East 6th Street
Green Oasis - 372 East 8th Street
9th Street Community Garden - 144 Avenue C
La Plaza Cultural - 632 East 9th Street
On a weekend in early April, we found several dedicated people hard at work sprucing up Albert’s Garden, which was transformed from a basketball court into a community-gathering place in the early 70’s.
We were surprised when we landed in front of this sculpture garden after meandering through a foliage filled pathway from 2nd street – large African sculptures and bricolage captivated our attention as we wound our way through.
In El Jardin del Paraiso, a great big willow tree shades this space, highlighted by an octagonal tree house that encircles its trunk.
Without a doubt, one of our favorite gardens, this "self contained eco-system" has been offering a serene environment for people in the neighborhood since 1982.
Tucked between the buildings of 6th Street, we were delighted to find the charming vine-covered treehouse, a stone seating area, beautiful flowers, and an attractive brick pathway with a covered archway.
This outdoor theater and community garden has a stone stage, a covered sand pit, shady benches, a wooden gazebo, and a wildlife habitat.
A lush acre garden, this green space has a large weeping willow and colorful lilies, delphiniums, and hydrangeas that release sweet fragrances into the surrounding air as well as a goldfish pond with turtles.
In 1987, the movie Batteries Not Included was filmed across the street and the garden was used as a staging area. Community people used the money that they had been given to purchase the gazebo that stands here today.
Want more details about this and other DIY projects? Check out my blog post!
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2 of 3 comments
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When I am back in New York and staying in the East Village I am always astonished by the number of little pocket parks tucked in in some of the most unlikely spots.
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Paradise in the urban jungle.
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