Ocean Bay Community Gardens

RDC Development, along with the technical assistance of the Rockaway Youth Task Force, seeks to construct two community gardens within the Ocean Bay developments over course of the next year. The Ocean Bay Community Gardens will serve as a resource for residents to learn about gardening, gain access to fresh and nutritious produce, and to make informed decisions about their health and diet. Consisting of 50 family plots within 2,400 square feet of gardening space, growing plots will be available to the Ocean Bays residents. The Community Garden ribbon cutting will be on the fifth anniversary of Super Storm Sandy, October 2017.

Rockaway Youth Task Force will conduct a one month construction process to complete the buildout of the Ocean Bay Community Gardens.

September:

• Purchase items: raised beds and tool shed, water tank, soil, paint, plants and shrubs, tools, benches and chairs  

October:

Development of the first site:

• Construction and painting the raised beds and tool shed
• Installation of the water tank
• Planting the shrubs and plants
• Arranging the benches and chairs

Development of the second site:

• Construction and painting the raised beds and tool shed
• Installation of the water tank
• Planting the shrubs and plants
• Arranging the benches and chairs

There is currently a development project occurring in the Far Rockaway's but once the construction teams leave the site we want to ensure the community has a place to continue to grow better lives. The community gardens will be a shared place that will provide residents with resources to learn about gardening, their health, and it will allow for access to fresh and nutritious produce. After the destruction caused from Super Storm Sandy, the gardens will be a constant reminder that the community can regrow and recuperate from any hardship.