Help Restore Red Hook's Secret Garden

Back in the Summer of 2013, when Find & Seek began our collaboration with the public library in our neighborhood of Red Hook, we started to have a conversation about the use of the side garden, which to us seemed to be a diamond in the Red Hook rough, the perfect hidden treasure of a spot for the outdoor early childhood programming we wanted to offer to the community. But it became apparent that the garden was not completely ready for children to explore freely, mostly because of some disintegrating wood and exposed nails in various places. We made some efforts to get these things taken care of so we could welcome families into the garden for our Find & Seek workshops, but Summer quickly turned to Fall, and then came the longest Winter we can remember....

Current status: 
• The garden has a wonderful built-in amphitheater.
• The whole garden was completely pruned in the Fall.
• There is not much work to be done: mostly some woodwork, including planters and benches.

Because there is truly not much work to be done, this project has been developed on the District 38 PBNY ballot as one of the most economical options, at $85,000. We believe the garden renovation will offer an amazing return on investment, for these reasons:

• Red Hook is in dire need of more (free/outdoor) community spaces. This space is beautiful already, and lends itself to community involvement. Children here need outdoor safe havens where they can explore nature and play in ways that are closer to the earth. Just as there are gross motor needs that pre-fab playground structures satisfy, there are serious mental and emotional developmental needs that children have, that can only be provided by natural spaces. Cultivating these spaces in Red Hook equals cultivating stronger and more beautiful childhoods for all children in our neighborhood.
• This garden is particularly unique, in that it adjoins a library. What a perfect way to bring nature into the "life of the mind." Children and families need more spaces where they can explore Story in all its permutations, especially those which involve the outdoors! The amphitheater is perfect for performances of children and family stories, read alouds, child-directed plays, and community presentations.

Many thanks to Sheryl Braxton who took on the role of Participatory Budgeting Delegate, and shepherded this project through all stages up to the two Expos, one in Sunset Park and another in Red Hook.

Sheryl Braxton works on the Participatory Budgeting Expo display for the Red Hook Library Garden project. See video.

HOW TO VOTE:

If you live in Carlos Menchaca's district, 38, covering Red Hook and Sunset Park in Brooklyn, you can VOTE for city funding to be granted to this beautiful treasure of a garden in Red Hook.

Voting is taking place at these venues (download PDF of all voting sites and dates), and you don't have to choose the garden over another project you like. You can vote for UP TO FIVE projects:

Thursday 4/3: 
Miccio Center, 110 West 9th Street 
3PM –7PM 

Turning Point 
5220 4th Ave 
1—6PM

Office of Council Member Carlos Menchaca 
5601 5th Avenue
8AM - 7PM

Friday 4/4: 
Office of Council Member Carlos Menchaca 
5601 5th Avenue
8AM - 7PM

Outside HSBC, 8th Ave & 61st Street 
3PM – 7PM

Saturday, 4/5: 
12PM-5PM 

Sunset Park Library 
5108 4th Ave 

Red Hook Initiative 
767 Hicks Street 

Sunset Park Rec. Center 
7th Ave & 43rd Street

Sunday, 4/6: 
12PM-5PM 

Office of Council Member Menchaca 
5601 5th Avenue 

Red Hook Initiative 
767 Hicks Street 

N Train Station 
Stop at the 8th Avenue