Community Rally to Preserve Prospect Farm Garden Amid Urban Development Concerns

City officials and community advocates gathered on January 27, 2026, to discuss preservation efforts for community gardens amid ongoing urban construction. The Subcommittee on Landmarks, Public Sightings, Resiliency, and Dispositions focused on the proposed acquisition of a Brooklyn lot to secure the future of Prospect Farm Community Garden, a vital local space for residents.

The Parks Department aims to purchase the site to ensure it remains a community garden, benefiting from city support through the Green Thumb program. This acquisition is critical because gardens on privately owned land lack similar protections, allowing owners to sell or repurpose these properties at any time (Source: https://youtu.be/2y9cNwAb0xo&t=4754). Community members expressed concerns regarding the Department of Transportation’s (DOT) plans for nearby construction that could encroach upon the garden’s sun exposure and operational space. The community urged the DOT to engage more directly with them regarding the designs for the Celia Street Bridge, which they fear could compromise the garden’s accessibility and overall health (Source: https://youtu.be/2y9cNwAb0xo&t=5799).

Prospect Farm has served as an essential community hub for over 30 years, where local residents not only grow food but also engage in educational and collaborative experiences. However, the planned bridge reconstruction raises worries about construction impacts. Community advocates highlighted that a proposed ramp could obstruct sunlight crucial for the plants, thereby shrinking the garden’s footprint (Source: https://youtu.be/2y9cNwAb0xo&t=6516). Advocates called for safeguards to preserve both the perimeter of the garden and its existing features, such as pollinator plants and compost stations (Source: https://youtu.be/2y9cNwAb0xo&t=5300).

Additionally, city officials reassured attendees that the proposed acquisition of the site by the Parks Department would ensure compliance with regulations designed to protect community gardens, such as those set forth in Chapter 6 of New York City’s parks rules. These rules mandate that gardens remain open to the public for a minimum number of hours each week and cannot be altered without a public rulemaking process (Source: https://youtu.be/2y9cNwAb0xo&t=4678; Source: https://youtu.be/2y9cNwAb0xo&t=6617).

The meeting culminated in a commitment to facilitating further dialogue between the Parks Department and the DOT, with the hope that more formal agreements will emerge to safeguard the interests of the community garden and its members (Source: https://youtu.be/2y9cNwAb0xo&t=4444). Community members stressed the importance of comprehensive protections for the garden against evolving urban development pressures, ensuring that these spaces remain accessible and functional for future generations (Source: https://youtu.be/2y9cNwAb0xo&t=5390).