Elizabeth Street Garden facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Elizabeth Street Garden |
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| Location | Elizabeth Street, between Prince & Spring Streets, New York City |
| 40°43′19.9″N 73°59′40.7″W / 40.722194°N 73.994639°W | |
| Website | www.elizabethstreetgarden.com |
The Elizabeth Street Garden (ESG) is a special green space in the Nolita neighborhood of Manhattan, New York City. It's about one acre in size and is filled with sculptures. You can find it on Elizabeth Street, between Prince and Spring Streets.
This garden is managed by Elizabeth Street Garden, Inc. (ESG), which is a non-profit group. It's open to everyone for everyday use and for community events. Volunteers from ESG help keep the garden running all year. They also organize more than 200 free events. These events include educational programs, wellness activities, and art-related fun. They are for kids, older adults, and everyone else in the neighborhood.
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History of the Elizabeth Street Garden
The land where the Elizabeth Street Garden now stands has an interesting past. It was once the site of a school called P.S. 106, later known as P.S. 21. This school was built in 1903 and had an outdoor area. This outdoor space was a busy spot for the community. The school was there until at least the late 1970s.
How the Garden Began
In 1981, new apartments were built on Spring Street. These apartments covered much of the old school site. There were plans to build a new school, but they never happened. This was because people in the community didn't agree with the plans. So, the school's playground became an empty lot. This empty space was about 20,000 square feet. It was located between Elizabeth and Mott streets, and Prince and Spring streets. This empty lot eventually became the garden we know today.
In 1990, a local community group decided to lease the lot. They leased it to Allan Reiver, who owned the Elizabeth Street Gallery. His gallery was right next to the garden property. In 1991, Mr. Reiver started to create the garden. He planted many different kinds of flowers, native plants, and trees. He also displayed beautiful sculptures, gates, and seating from his gallery collection.
Opening to the Public
Starting in 2005, people could visit the garden through Mr. Reiver's gallery. In 2013, the garden became part of a big discussion. The city was thinking about building affordable homes on the site. But many community members wanted to keep the green space. They worked with Mr. Reiver to make the garden more open to everyone. They started public events and gained a lot of support.
In August 2014, this group officially formed "Friends of Elizabeth Street Garden, Inc." (FESG). Then, in April 2017, some members from FESG formed a new group called Elizabeth Street Garden (ESG). This new group now manages the garden. They keep it open to the public every day of the week. They also provide many free public and educational programs for the community.
Future of the Garden
In June 2019, the City Council made a decision about the garden. They voted to build affordable homes for seniors on the garden site. This new building would have apartments for seniors. It would also include shops and office space. Some city leaders supported this plan. However, many community members, local groups, and state politicians did not agree.
In March 2019, Elizabeth Street Garden (ESG) filed a lawsuit. They want to stop the proposed building plan. The garden's future is still being discussed.
Gallery
