Information about this lot
Political Boundaries
Why is this lot here?
We posted this lot because:
Government Agency
Urban Renewal
This lot is part of the Southside urban renewal plan. It was planned as open space.
Steward
This land is being stewarded by the following group:
Pathways
News feed
Hi Gardeners, we are having a garden meeting this Thursday, September 14 at 6:30 PM at Rough Draft, 402 Hooper St (at S 1st Street). Please join us!
Join us tomorrow at the garden, Saturday December 3rd, 10am - 1pm, we're looking for volunteers to:
- Clean up the lot
- Roll out and hammer down the garden fabric
- Spread out the wood chips
Hope to see you there!!!
Just got this email!
**Tomorrow, Saturday Nov. 19 from 11 AM to 12:30 PM, please join us to plant bulbs, build picnic tables and do a light clean up! We will have tools, gloves and garbage bags, so you just have to come prepared to get into the dirt!
Looking forward to seeing you,
Gardeners of Hooper Street**
A planning meeting this Wednesday!
The Gardeners of Hooper Street Park invite you to our
Los Jardineros de Hooper Street Park lo invitan a la
Public Visioning Session for the new Community Garden
Reunión de Planificación Pública para el nuevo Jardín Comunitario
This Wednesday/Miercoles, 10/19, 6:30 PM
Nuestros Niños
384 S 4 St
Between/Entre Hooper & Hewes St
Co-Sponsored by/Co-auspiciado por:
El Puente Green Light | Nuestros Niños | 596 Acres
Hey all, we have already gotten the all-clear from Parks for us to do light trash clean up, including weeding. We're on for a clean up on Sunday 7/10 at 11 AM! See you guys there!
Ready to get this garden ready?
We are meeting this Saturday at 2pm to do a clean up of the lot and the tree plots. Bring gloves and trash bags.
We will also be painting and hanging up a banner to drum up more interest within the neighborhood.
At 2:30, someone is going to give us a presentation on soil.
INFO:
SATURDAY JUNE 18, 2016
2PM @ Hooper St Park Garden
375 South 5th St., Brooklyn NY 11211
contact: hooperstreetpark@gmail.com
Hope to see you there!
This years-long campaign has paid off!
A NYC Parks Department GreenThumb program staff person just sent this note:
I write with the good news that vacant lot located 375 South 5th Street has been officially transferred to the jurisdiction of the NYC Parks Department. Now that the lot is under Parks jurisdiction we can now take steps to transform the lot into a community garden.
A note from the director of NYC Parks Department GreenThumb program, received today:
"This is moving along, and I’m hoping that internal due diligence will be completed in short order."
* HOOPER PARK PLANNING MEETING This Sunday, 3/6/16, 7-8:30 pm at St. Paul's, South 5th and Rodney. *
Time to plan a (work) party:
From: "Goldberg, Arielle (HPD)" goldbear@hpd.nyc.gov
Subject: RE: HPD is ready to transfer Hooper Park to NYC Parks!!
Date: February 22, 2016 at 5:26:41 PM GMT-5
Hi Paula,
I am working with Parks on this and hopefully the transfer will be official within the next few weeks.
Arielle
GREAT NEWS FROM HPD!!
From: "Goldberg, Arielle (HPD)" goldbear@hpd.nyc.gov
Subject: RE: Checking in on 5 new garden applications
Date: January 19, 2016 at 6:34:14 PM GMT-5
To: "'Paula Z. Segal, 596 Acres'" paula@596acres.org
Cc: "Martinez, Carlos (Parks)" Carlos.Martinez@parks.nyc.gov
Hi Paula,
Happy New Year to you as well!
[...] In terms of 375 South 5th Street, we have reviewed the site and would be happy to transfer it to Parks for use as a community garden.
Best regards,
Arielle
At an in-person meeting at City Hall on December 30, 2015, Housing Preservation and Development Commissioner Vicki Been committed to reviewing this application and considering transferring this property to the NYC Parks Department for stewardship by volunteers as a GreenThumb community garden.
She also announced that 34 gardens other gardens on HPD land were being transferred to NYC Parks. More details here: http://596acres.org/news/2015/12/29/gardens-being-transferring-to-nyc-parks/ (15 of the gardens just transferred to become permanent Parks' gardens had been offered for sale to developers for $1 early in 2015; a year of organizing paid off!)
The Mayor's office is talking to GreenThumb about getting this lot finally transferred to Parks. It seems like good news is just around the corner!
We just brought the garden application to the attention of this advocate:
Sarah Currie-Halpern | Senior Policy Advisor
NYC Mayor's Office of Sustainability
253 Broadway - 7th floor | New York, NY 10007
O: 212-676-3067 | M: 646-265-2654
scurriehalpern@cityhall.nyc.gov
She is planning to help move this along. Drop her a note and thank her!
I brought this stalled GreenThumb application to the attention of GreenThumb director Nancy Kohn today. She confirmed that the surest route to a new community open space on this City-owned property would a transfer to the Parks Department.
Since the Urban Renewal Plan for the area already has this mapped as Open Space (just like the Keap Fourth garden was mapped), a transfer should be reasonable.
But it will only happen if Parks or the Council Member requests it.
You can do three things right now:
-
call Brooklyn Borough Parklands to ask that they take jurisdiction of the lot for a new garden - Martin Maher, (718) 965-8917.
-
call or email GreenThumb (the NYC Parks Department Community Gardening program) to ask that they request Brooklyn Borough Parklands take jurisdiction of the lot for a new garden :
Nancy Kohn, Executive Director (until Oct 9), (212) 602-5301
Nancy.Kohn@parks.nyc.gov
Carlos Martinez, Deputy Director, (212) 602-5329
Carlos.Martinez@parks.nyc.gov
-
and call Council Member Antonio Reynoso's office to request that they also make the two calls above:
District Office Address:
244 Union Ave, Brooklyn NY 11211
District Office Phone : 718-963-3141
Leave a note after you call!
Sarita from El Puente let me know that no one from the waiting lists for their gardens returned their calls.
If anyone wants to take charge of bugging elected officials and pushing the amazing application that everyone already put together, reach out to 596 Acres in September! We'll have a new organizer named Andrew who can help! Email: organizers@596acres.org.
A neighbor told me that the South 5 Street Block Association party is happening this Saturday July 11th. Might be a good chance to gather some support. Anyone interested?
Hello everyone as you all know my name is Miguel and I'm a certified BBG BUG that stsnds for "Brooklyn Urban Gardner" and a MC thst is a "Master Composter" well with that all out of the way I would like to extend my services and help to this wonderful and brave group in achieving your goals in Urban Gardening. Pleas feel free to call me at (347) 231-7216 leave your name and number and I will get back to you.
Keep it green and clean, Miguel
Oh and my email is, mikman69@gmail.com.
This group could use some help from other interested neighbors to bulk up support to make this park a reality. If anyone wants to help by simply editing a letter to present to the community board that they can sign their name to, or if someone can take on the task of connecting with the council member's office to chat about work that has been done so far around this project, that would be great and much needed!
Still waiting to hear a response from Rasheed at GreenThumb...
Don't forget to 'like' our Facebook page for updates!
I reached out to Pastor Ben and the community board (to spread the word), and the council member's office to let them know about this event.
Saturday March 28th!
11 am!
At the lot!
Bring any rakes you might have, plus some gloves and water if you'd like them for yourself!
Hi all,
Trying to organize this lot's cleanup day on Saturday March 28, 2015.
If anyone needs to reach me, my info is:
tiffanyfrances.ny@gmail.com
A recap of the meeting created by Tiffany, a neighbor who is part of the leadership of the garden-to-be:
Meeting at Pastor Ben’s Church
February 24, 2015 - 7pm
Leads: Mary, Robert, Tiffany, Pastor Ben, Santiago
Robert and Tiffany attended this meeting with Mary Prall from 596 Acres, Santiago Lopez from La Casita Verde, and Pastor Ben at his church.
Hold on HPD approval for gardens
-Waiting for results to come in
-Don’t get discourage if Rasheed says “no” to application
Clean-Up Day
-Start a clean-up day for Spring
-Possible dates: March 28 / April 11
-Materials: Gloves, water, boots, large construction garbage bags, garden tools
-Can ask sanitation to pick up trash after (schedule beforehand)
-Can ask other other gardens to loan us tools
Schedule a Community Meeting
-Next step: getting people involved & community brainstorm session
-Advertise a month in advance
-Facebook page announcement
-Email our list of people
-Post signs around neighborhood
-Approach: schools, church, other gardens, precinct (explorers), boy scouts, library
Tuesday night's meeting was small in attendance but valuable! There's plans in the works for a clean up day and a community visioning session. Stay tuned!
For the meeting tonight: enter via the door at 334 South 5th St. If it's locked, ring the door bell. Not sure what floor we'll be on but Pastor Ben who is hosting us will put out a sign!
Reminder: TONIGHT, February 24th
at 7 pm at St. Paul's Church (334 South 5th Street between Keap and Rodney, just two blocks from the lot).
All are welcome!
We're holding a meeting next TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 24TH at 7 pm at St. Paul's Church at 334 South 5th Street between Keap and Rodney (just two blocks from the lot). All are welcome!
I think this meeting would be a great opportunity to share the proposal that was submitted to GreenThumb and perhaps get ideas on how the governance of the garden should work.
Tiffany submitted the application to GreenThumb electronically on February 3rd!
Stay tuned for an upcoming meeting! If anyone has days or times in the next few weeks that are good please leave a note here or email mary@596acres.org!
This group has collected letters of support from two local daycares, a nearby church, Los Sures and El Puente. Awesome!
I called Ms Knox told her i will help her with the garden she told me that Lee Troutman has to call her back.
This morning I wrote to Philip Caponigro at CB1 and asked if it was possible to resend the letter of support to Nancy Kohn, GreenThumb's new director.
I stopped by today and talked to the folks who spend time in front of the lot. They have kids and would love to see it transformed. They told me Los Sures had been working on this is the past and promised to get in touch tomorrow.
This lot needs a sign - we'll get one over in the next week!
Last night I met with a few of the folks interested in moving this project forward. They went over what's needed to complete an application to GreenThumb:
- They need to check in with the community board and see if they can get an official letter of support OR make sure the board delivered this letter directly to GreenThumb.
- They're working on a mission statement and getting letters of support from local organizations.
- They already have a drawing of the space and 10 garden members.
This lot was designated as Open Space in the Southside Urban Renewal Plan, created in 1992 and active until 2032. Let's make it so (only 22 years later, but still!).
See http://www.urbanreviewer.org/#map=17/40.7084/-73.9531&plan=Southside (it's a work in progress but it's coming together).
Since the group has the support of their CB, they're just in the process of putting together a proposal to submit to GreenThumb.
Hey, Hooper St Park Garden! Join us TOMORROW for a Citywide General Meeting to meet folks from other neighborhoods and boroughs! Groups with access to their spaces as well as those still working through the process will be present to share stories and best practices.
TOMORROW! Thursday, April 3rd
6:30 pm to 8:30 pm
At our office in Build It Green! in Gowanus (69 Ninth Street, Brooklyn)
Last week Hooper Street Park Garden presented in front of Brooklyn Community Board 1's Parks and Waterfront Committee and received support! Next Tuesday, March 11th the neighbors will be presenting in front of the general board for final approval!
6:30 PM
Combined Public Hearing and Board Meeting
will be held at Swinging 60's Senior Center,
211 Ainslie Street, Brooklyn, New York 11211
(corner of Manhattan Avenue)
I received an email from Robert Atterbury: These neighbors are calling their space Hooper St. Park Garden. They had a small meeting late last year, and now Beverly Bryan will be going before the CB1 Parks Committee tomorrow to request their support. They are also partnering with Nuestros Ninos, a local day care provider.
Check out their FB Page here: https://www.facebook.com/hoopergarden
Sign up here to become a member: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1oSm-R87Feh5Z8dW737TqvBWcN316yCRaqAQw3pW3ZQU/viewform
ALSO! The group is looking to be connected with a volunteer horticulturalist or landscape designer. If you know of one, you could email hooperstreetpark@gmail.com.
Come meet your neighbors and other organizers this Saturday at the 596 Acres Workshops & Organizing Session at Pa'lante Juntos!, this year's El Puente Green Light District Summit:
Saturday, October 13 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.
At Family Day with the Green Light District (Espiritu Tierra Community Garden, S. 2nd St. between Roebling and Driggs). When you come, introduce yourself as organizing here!
More details:
http://us4.campaign-archive2.com/?u=696b604d1630492fe03dd00e4&id=9a46ffe5b4
glad to hear there's a lot of interest in turning around this lot! i live a few blocks away and would be happy to pitch in some volunteer time to turn it around. i'll keep an eye out for any updates on this thread.
I have been living at 319 Hooper for just over a year and am so happy to see that so many other people are interested in this lot! I would love to get involved in anyway I can... lets get rid of the rats and make it a beautiful greenspace for all
Hello everyone,
El Puente's Green Light District will be hosting a community meeting next Thursday, 8/16, to strategize around this lot and others in the Southside! Please RSVP to greenlightdistrict@elpuente.us, or via phone at 347 532-2809. Hope to see you there, bring your ideas, strategies, and resources!
Location: Espiritu Tierra Community Garden, S. 2nd St. (between Roebling and Driggs)
Time: 6:30pm
Host: Anusha Venkataraman, Acting Director of the Green Light District
Everyone! I'm sorry I haven't been organizing the way I should. I've been working on a campaign and haven't had the time to get everyone together. I have a small list of people interested in the lot, if you set a time/location I will be happy to send it around. Otherwise, I have talked with one of the local landlords that would be happy to make a substantial donation towards the renovation of the lot. I've also spoken with the local assembly member who's staff would be happy to help us with the agencies.
Hi there! I'm really interested in being a part of a collaborative to make this space useable. I've lived on Hoopeer Street for 12 years and am happy to see others wanting to work together to contribute to the area. How can I help?
Time to call HPD to double-check the status of this lot; have a meeting at the site to see who's interested, then to approach Green Thumb.
TO APPROACH GREEN THUMB (greenthumbnyc.org), A GROUP NEEDS:
- The names of 2 Primary gardeners + (at least) a list of ten volunteers (full contact info);
- A letter from the Community Board in support of the project and group;
- A name for the proposed garden/group being formed to look after the garden; and
- A letter of 596 Acres describing the community
There are 6 people watching this lot (and another one watching the lot next to it)!
Neat! It would be great if everyone who knows anything about the city's or the community's plans for it would write a note. You don't have to reveal your name but a note is a great way to share information with the rest of the folks who are engaged here. When you write your note, everyone will get an email - just like you just got!
If you want to know more about this lot, you can call the city agency listed on the lot's page to ask them about it. Here are some tips for your phone call: http://596acres.org/en/resources/advocacy-resources/
I live on S. 4th and call about rodents/trash often, too. Glad to be in contact with other concerned people! What are the next steps?
I live next door, and have been looking to turn the lot into useable public space for a while (I also call and make the Dept of Sanitation come clean it every once and a while). I work with HPD and other City agencies on a regular basis, and I would love to be of assistance in any way possible to help turn this lot into public green space. I am looking for other people who may be interested in this to start a coalition to show our elected officials a constituency that is interested in their assistance.
HPD's Jack Hammer says this lot is in the same situation as 59 Java Street (http://596acres.org/lot/3025390029/), the site of the Java Street Garden Collaborative (javastgarden.blogspot.com) and will be subject to a similar agreement.
You can read about the Java Street Process here: http://596acres.org/news/2012/03/02/java-street-gets-green-light-words-stella-whos-bee/
The folks working on Java Street and others will be able to support a new group that forms here with our accrued knowledge.