Green Oasis Community Garden
Green Oasis Community Garden & Gilbert's Sculpture Garden, also known as Green Oasis Community Garden, is a 17,787 square foot community garden and sculpture garden at 372 East 8th Street, located in the East Village of Manhattan, New York City.[1]
History[edit]
Green Oasis Community Garden was founded in 1981.[2] With the neighborhood experiencing crime and decay in the preceding decades, the garden opened, alongside Gilbert’s Sculpture Garden, aiming to provide a safe, green space for all people, especially children.[2] In addition, the garden created space for the community, offering a space to perform theater, poetry, and enjoy nature.[2] Green Oasis Community Garden, founded by Norman Valee and Reinaldo Aranas, was created from five abandoned lots located on East 8th St between Avenues C & D.[3][4] With the help of the community, the lots were cleared of rubble, dumped cars, and garbage to prepare for the garden.[3]
The Green Oasis Community Garden fought for survival when the local Manhattan Community Board 3 did not back its application to be spared from development.[5] In response, the gardener's organized, eventually prevailing with community support.[5]
A community volunteer organization hosts monthly clean-ups at the Green Oasis Community Garden.[6][3]
Features and Usage[edit]
The garden's tree specimens include a giant Blue Atlas Cedar, cherry and mulberry trees, and crepe myrtles.[7] In addition, Green Oasis has bee hives and a koi pond.[7]
In 1987, the movie Batteries Not Included was filmed across the street from the garden. The garden space was used as a staging area. At the conclusion of the movie, the people in the community used the money gained from the rental to purchase the gazebo that still stands there today.[7]
Gilbert’s Sculpture Garden[edit]
John Gilbert Ingram Sr., the superintendent of the building across from Valle and Arenas, created a sculpture garden, seeing the open lot as an ideal spot to fulfill his lifelong interest in sculpting.[8] Gilbert’s Sculpture Garden merged in the 1990s with its neighbor, Green Oasis, to create one of the most child-friendly gardens in NYC.[3][8][9]
See also[edit]
References[edit]
- ^ "Grow Me A Garden - Gilbert's Sculpture and Green Oasis Community Garden". www.growmeagarden.com. Retrieved 2021-04-03.
- ^ a b c "Green Oasis and Gilbert's Sculpture Garden". NYC-ARTS. Retrieved 2021-04-03.
- ^ a b c d "New York City Garden Coalition | Green Oasis garden". www.earthcelebrations.com. Retrieved 2021-04-03.
- ^ Halpern, Sue (1999). Mother Jones Magazine. Mother Jones.
- ^ a b "Green Oasis and Gilbert's Sculpture Garden | Open Green Map". www.opengreenmap.org. Retrieved 2021-04-03.
- ^ "Green Oasis Garden, 8th St. between Aves C and D | times-up.org". times-up.org. Retrieved 2021-04-03.
- ^ a b c "Green Oasis Community Garden & Gilbert's Sculpture Garden - Manhattan Sideways". sideways.nyc. Retrieved 2021-04-03.
- ^ a b "Deep Roots: Residents Protect a Lower East Side Oasis – Dollars & Sense". Retrieved 2021-04-03.
- ^ Howe, Marvine (1994-05-15). "NEIGHBORHOOD REPORT: LOWER EAST SIDE; Trouble in the Gardens?". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2021-04-03.
40°43′27″N 73°58′38″W / 40.7241°N 73.9773°W
