MANHATTAN – The fight to bring a community garden to an eyesore lot at the southwest corner of First Avenue and East 78th Street ended in major disappointment as the lot was recently sold to a developer– though it did inspire new proposed federal legislation just introduced by Congresswoman Carolyn Maloney, who had added her weight to fight for more green space on the Upper East Side.
Last December, Rep. Maloney joined UES Green Space Now— a grassroots advocacy group— at the then overgrown, rat-infested site in Lenox Hill to raise awareness and help drive signatures for a petition to turn the lot into a community garden.
Though that effort would ultimately fail— the site was razed then sold for more than $70 million— Maloney found the recipe for success in bringing much needed green space to our community and communities across the country.
EARLIER COVERAGE | Hopes Dashed for Community Garden as UES Eyesore Lot is Sold to Developer
“The COVID-19 pandemic has showed us more than ever that neighborhoods in New York City and many urban communities around the country are in dire need of safe, green community spaces where people can gather,” said Rep. Maloney.
“Most cities don’t have the resources to create these community parks, so it’s our responsibility to step-up to the challenge.”
The Revitalizing Cities Through Parks Enhancement Act— or RECIPE Act— proposed by Rep Maloney would establish a grand program to help non-profit community groups establish small community gardens and parks by helping get leases to vacant government-owned land and providing funding for the transformation into green space.
Upper East Side City Council MemberJulie Menin, who joined the efforts by UES Green Space Now, applauded the proposed legislation— adding that our neighborhood “is one of the densest in New York City yet has one of the smallest amounts of green space.”
“Supporting our parks and creating new green spaces is critical for the health and quality of life for our community,” Menin said.
The RECIPE ACT sets aside $10 million dollars in funding each year for both 2023 and 2024, providing grants for as much as a quarter million dollars to help community organizations create new community gardens in urban areas.
ALSO READ | Barricades in Carl Schurz Park Finally Come Down 19 Months after Protests Began
Any government-owned space selected for transformation into green space would also be required to be available for seven years— making the new park or community garden semi-permanent.
To make sure the money goes where it’s needed, no more than ten percent of funding can be used toward administration costs— the funding is intended to be used for leases and transformations.
“As a long time advocate and builder of green spaces across my district… I was inspired by the grassroots effort to transform the East 78th Street vacant lot into a community garden and thrilled to support the cause,” Rep. Maloney told Upper East Site.
“While those efforts did not go as planned, we have the power to turn vacant lots across our City into gardens and parks which will beautify our neighborhoods, increase property values, and provide safe, clean areas for our children to play,” the Congresswoman added.
“My RECIPE Act has the power to do just that by giving community non-profits the resources they need to create community gardens and green spaces for New Yorkers.”
For updates around the clock, follow us on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook
