State Awards $2.15 Million for New Bronx Garden

The grant will fund the purchase and development of a new half-acre community garden in the Bronx.

Updated on Oct. 27, 2026 in Botany

Isometric editorial illustration of a raised garden bed and native shrubs in a plot near urban buildings. — The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation awarded a $2.15 million grant to Open Space Initiatives to develop a half-acre Bronx community garden. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

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The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation has awarded a $2.15 million grant to Open Space Initiatives to secure a new botanical garden project. The funds will support the acquisition and preparation of a half-acre site located at 2670 Schurz Avenue.

Why it matters

This grant aims to provide critical resources to protect significant open space projects within the city. It allows for the preservation of land that will ultimately be transitioned into a community-managed green space.

The project involves purchasing the 0.5-acre property for $2,050,000, with an additional $100,000 allocated for site grading and security. This garden will join a portfolio currently managed by the Bronx Land Trust, which oversees 18 existing locations.

The players

New York State Department of Environmental Conservation

This government agency is responsible for overseeing and protecting the state's environmental resources.

Open Space Initiatives

This organization works to secure and protect land for public use and conservation purposes.

Bronx Land Trust

This nonprofit organization focuses on managing and maintaining community-owned green spaces and gardens throughout the borough.

The details

Open Space Initiatives will oversee the initial property acquisition before transferring the site to the Bronx Land Trust. Volunteers are expected to lead the garden design process following a series of community input sessions.

Mid-October 2026: The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation awarded the grants.
April 2027: The property transfer to the Bronx Land Trust is expected to be completed.

The Big Picture

This project follows the established institutional growth of the Bronx Land Trust garden portfolio, which has been in operation since 1999. By adding this site to their holdings, the trust continues its long-term strategy of securing urban green space for community use.

Residents of the area can expect to see new green space development beginning following the property transfer in 2027. This project will eventually provide public access to a managed community garden, contributing to the local inventory of open space.

The takeaway

This project highlights the ongoing effort to convert private urban land into protected community-managed gardens. Interested residents should stay engaged with the Bronx Land Trust to participate in the upcoming volunteer-led design process.