Contribute to cleaning-up, repairing and re-landscaping 48th to 50th St outside the Sunnyside Community Garden to make this green space safer and more beautiful for our community to enjoy.
Leader
Christopher Rafinski
Location
Barnett Ave, Queens, NY Sunnyside, NY 11104
For fifty years, Sunnyside Community Garden has maintained the green space along the walkway on Barnett Avenue from 48th to 50th Street through monthly clean-ups and landscaping. From the onset, community members have united to beautify the neighborhood and form the life-transforming oasis that exists today.
In recent years the retaining wall and greenery along this strip have become victims to decay and erosion. Since this walkway is used by hundreds of community members on a daily basis, many of our volunteers help maintain both the beauty, but also the safety of this strip of land. Therefore, in Spring 2022, we aim to clean-up, upgrade and re-landscape along the sidewalk from 48th to 50th Street to make this strip of green space safer and complimentary of the lush vegetation that we have grown to love in our community.
Note: your donation to our ioby campaign is tax deductible and you will be receiving a confirmation (receipt) of your tax deductible contribution after you donate.
We are planning to have materials purchased and the space prepared before our April 2nd start date. Contact us at [email protected] if you are interested in volunteering. This is a draft of our schedule (subject to change):
April 2 Clear Space from 48th - 50th Street, Barnett Avenue
April 9th Purchase and move Materials
April 16th Digging, Positioning and Securing
April 23rd Digging, Positioning and Securing
April 30th Landscaping begins
May 7th Landscaping completion
May 14th Survey the land! (OK, not really survey, but this would be a great day to celebrate!)
In 1971 a few intrepid Sunnysiders started the Sunnyside Community Garden. SCG continues this 50 year legacy and continues to expand its reach through neighborhood beautification, receiving food-scraps for composting and organic food donations**. Initially this space was founded simply for gathering, peace and well-being, but has now become a bustling community hub in Sunnyside serving thousands of community members.
Sadly, the strip of land from 48th to 50th Streets has recently become unsightly and unsafe through decaying wood from the railroad ties that were once a solid retaining wall, therefore our next community-building endeavor of Barnett Beautification.
Scientific studies have illustrated the manifold benefits of green spaces. There is increasing evidence in the 2018 Clinical Medicine Journal that “exposure to green space…is beneficial to mental and physical health” SCG is invested in providing spaces to provide healing and strengthening from neighbor-to-neighbor. Ultimately, beautification, overall health, belonging and safety are addressed and we hope propagated through Barnett Beautification.
**Throughout COVID, we have donated more than 1100 lbs of fresh produce to local pantries for the underserved. Our ongoing contributions continue through the winter months.
