Nuestra gente! Family! Community!

We are two girls from Queens trying to take a *positive* step forward in unity and sustainability in the neighborhood that helped raise us.

Elmhurst Sculpture Garden is an underutilized public space lacking livelihood, purpose, and a sense of community.

 

 

Our plan is to clean up, remodel and garden at Elmhurst Sculpture Park. The park is located in a busy part of the neighborhood. It is located near several bus stops, subway stations and Queens Center Mall.

Here are some of our solutions:

-We want to raise the concrete dividers separating the garden and the LIE for more protection and separation. We feel that at the bare minimum community members deserve a safe and navigable garden.

-Mixture of single seating, benches, and hammocks

-Raised beds of vegetation

-Creating paths, create visible entrance

-Create signage at entrances and vegetation and installing koi pond

-Terrace farming and rain barrel

-Contact local artists to determine mural design and hold movie nights and educational sessions/workshops

 

 

 

 

Some of our goals:

-Improve nutritional and environmental awareness

-Offer educational programs/workshops (nutrition, cooking, gardening, arts, etc.)

-Increased physical activity and improved mental health

-Provide fresh, organic produce to local food banks and meal programs

-Promote healthy eating habits by encouraging home gardening/composting

 

The Elmhurst Sculpture Garden is a space in need of flourishment. It lacks vegetation, proper seating arrangements, and entrances. But most importantly it is missing the connection of a diverse and strong community.

If we are able to secure funding for Elmhurst Sculpture Garden, these are the actions needed to make this proposal a reality.

We plan to reach out to community organizations, such as the existing Elmhurst Sculpture Garden organization, the local Elmhurst community fridge, and many local organizations to recruit volunteers.

After recruiting more members we’d work together to identify and collaborate with stakeholders, public city funding, and local businesses to collect more resources and engagement.

To spread word about the garden’s revitalization, we plan on reaching out to local artists asking them to submit art that will go directly in the garden. We plan to use the actual litter in the garden and upcycling it for various beautification projects such as decoration for fencing and other areas in the park.

After we are able to secure the resources, our last step would be to create a calendar of events to plan out the community activities like health education workshops, movie nights and events.

 

Lack of representation can leave this marginalized community in the dark. The community at Elmhurst Sculpture Garden has already been neglected for years. We hope you will give us the opportunity to turn this location into the garden that the community deserves.

 

Yours truly,

Valery Zorrilla & Kayla Rosado

 

*graphics by Valery Zorrilla <3*