Added More Plant Beds, Rain Catch
Residents in Long Island City celebrated the ribbon-cutting of a newly renovated community garden, last Thursday, May 23.
The LIC Roots Community Garden, which is built over the tracks of a defunct railroad, now features a new wing, a rainwater harvesting system and a bee hive, according to information from GrowNYC, one of the gardens partners.
The garden features a grass lawn, flower beds and a hard-surfaced patio with seating, as well as six raised vegetable garden beds.
A new 10′ by 20′ rain catch provides shade while collecting water in a 250-gallon cistern that helps irrigate the garden’s crops.
In addition, LIC Roots Garden was dedicated to the late firefighter Michael E. Brennan, a Sunnyside native and member of Engine 54 who lost his life during the Sept. 11, 2011 terror attacks. A memorial flagpole honors the fallen first-responder.
The garden was conceived in 2000 when neighbors living in the area sough to beautify the industrial areas along 47th Avenue, and in 2004, the garden received license for community beautification from the Metropolitan Transportation Authority.
One-hundred and forty cubic yards of garbage from the defunct Degnon Terminal Railroad were cleared out to make room for the garden at 47-08 30th St., according to GrowNYC.
Portions of the garden were constructed by students from Queens International High School and Robert F. Wagner Middle School, who use two of the six raised beds for a school gardening program according to GrowNYC’s release.
The expansion was funded with assistance from the North Star Fund and Greening Western Queens grants, as well as Assemblywoman Catherine Nolan, the MTA and the Louis and Anne Abrons Foundation.
