Garden District NYC

Quiet and serene, this little garden lives up to its name! 

A treasured place in the community - anyone can shop at this Co-op and other co-op cards are honored. Working a shift a month saves 25% on organic food!

75 FREE to the Public Events Annually Native Plant Areas

This Passive House building will soon open, complete with solar panels and a green roof! It’s the ideal home for arts and activism collectives, many of which have thrived for decades. As seen at abcnorio.org this nonprofit has been an important part of downtown’s creative spirit since 1981. All are welcome! 

14 blocks of public space, ideal for distancing on foot, by bicycle, skateboard, etc. Running from Houston Street to the East River, it's all contiguous (except the block just north of Delancey). Every block is different - some have recent plantings, seating and paths, others are in 'original condition'.  Special recognition is due to Juston Ladda, the social practice artist who tends the first section below Delancey Street! When will the old bathhouse reopen with a new purpose? Bike lanes on both sides make taking Allen Mall a quick trip!  

Public plaza that is the ‘continental divide’ between the East and Greenwich Village. Cooper Union, parts of LIU and NYU converge here. The Public Theater and other cultural touchstones are just off the plaza. In the center, the Alamo, aka the Astor Place Cube awaits you. 

One of many Metro Stations along 14th Street, this is the newest and it has an elevator!

Even before the Pandemic, community members were trying to open Avenue B as a bike and pedestrian space, but it took the need for social distancing for cars to step back. In 202, DOT provided heavy wood barriers which were painted and moved daily by volunteers. Now several blocks are calm and open 8AM to 8 PM daily! In 2026, there is new paint and lane designations that open more public space to people. See @Loisaida_OSCC for updates and events, or to get involved!

This is home base for Community Board 3, and a great place to exercise your right to speak on issues that concern you at the local level. Get involved in a committee that meets monthly (check locations/zoom link online) or see what's on the agenda and show up with your questions. This is your point of entry to the official side of New York, and you can learn so much from the city reps, electeds, and community members there. 

This is really a small farm! So much delicious food comes from these plots, from many different cultural traditions. Campos celebrates the seasons with outstanding performance and events, from Aztec Dancers to Opera - see camposcommunitygarden.org/ for details! 

Since a plant based diet is one of the best ways to reduce your carbon footprint,  Caravan of Dreams is on the map as its one of the best and most pioneering vegan cafes in NYC! Live music on weekends, great backroom for gatherings.

There's a historic mural over the gate of this flower garden that reminds us of the struggle for community gardens and their importance to the wellbeing of the community.  Find out more of the story and join a terrific cultural or craft event in this flower-filled place at carmenpabongarden.org/

It’s a place to play and learn. A long-fought for space, now it is a whole but needs more sunlight and many hands to become the garden of dreams. Pitch in with More Gardens! Mulberry & peaches are harvested here. 

Located at 201 W 13th St, this social justice minded church hosts many movement meetings. Just across from the LGBTQ Center and around the corner from the NYC AIDS Memorial Park at St Vincent Triangle. 

Where does the community get its juice? This behemoth uses natural gas and other fossil fuels. Just a little bit is renewable now, but the next five years will change the energy balance for good, we hope! Check out the LES Power Green Map for nearby energy alternatives.

There’s a local music hot spot here! De Colores is a busy place every Friday evening from June - November, when it hosts the LUNGS CSA. This is a pay as you go opportunity to buy from local farmers, currently $15 a week - get details at lungsnyc.org/csa/

Quiet and calm, this is a NY Restoration Garden. It is one of 114 precious green spots saved by Bette Midler in 1999 from being auctioned for development. This small spot is accessible and gracious.

The F has a great route and this station is the first to test a TEN - a Thermal Energy Network. Waste heat from the subway is helping cool the station, thanks to radiant ceiling panels described here. It won't be long before other stations are more comfortable. TEN systems that use the subway's excess heat for warming or cooling the buildings above are in the works, too.This station has an up escalator, but it's not fully accessible.  A long-awaited elevator is slated for the next F station at Delancey Essex, which has the JMZ as well as the F train. 

Fab, huge community garden with medicinal plot, bioswale, casita, abundant veggie beds and plenty of sunshine! Gates on both  East 5th and 4th Street side (this side open for occasions). 

This garden epitomizes culture, with frequent performances amidst the deep greenery of the garden. Definitely one of the nicest fences in NYC!  Find it at 522 East 12th St between Aves A & B, or stop in at a montly gathering - elsolbrillante.org/

Organizes the cultural organizations on this block and all over this neighborhood. FAB co-produces many cool events, including the Ave B Open Street, LES History Month and much much more - explore the plethora at fabnyc.org

There's a small orchard here that makes this garden a lovely sight in the springtime. Also known as Generations Garden.

Giant sized garden with extensive plots, a stage and pond, gazebo and a real sense of peacefulness. There's a wonderful schedule of workshops and performances throughout the season

A wonderful sight in any season! "Kenkeleba House is a non-profit art gallery dedicated to celebrating and presenting the visual aesthetic and cultural legacy of African American artists and other artists of color"   kenkeleba.orgIn addition to the sculpture garden on East 3rd St just east of Avenue B, there's also the Wilmer Jennings Gallery at Kenkeleba at 219 East 2nd Street.