Harlem Rose Garden, founded by Carolyn Schaefer in 2003, (harlemrosegarden.nyc) was born when Harlem resident, Carolyn, worked to mobilize neighbors and access support from the NYC Parks Department, GreenThumb, and Green Gorillas to turn an empty lot into the garden. Excited by the prospect of giving new life to this block, neighbor Phil Gaetano helped make her vision come true by donating his expertise as a landscaper, as well as labor and materials. Harlem Rose Garden has grown into group with a stable membership of over 50 individuals and open access to the public throughout the spring and summer. In the summer months, weekly mediation sessions open each weekend. Throughout the season writing workshops, poetry readings, and jazz performances highlight the extraordinary character of the area. 

In the wake of COVID-19, our Harlem neighborhood has been particularly affected and on May 1, 2020, Harlem Rose Garden experienced an additional tragedy: our two, 30 foot willow trees, in place since 2003, were blown over in a windstorm, all but completely leveling our garden. On May 20, the Parks Department assisted us in removing the trees and clearing the garden. We are now faced with the prospect of needing to completely replant during our most financially difficult year to date. We are deeply committed to replanting and reopening the garden as soon as possible, so that we can be a resource to our community as we work together to recover from the trauma and hardship of the COVID-19 pandemic.  We provide community access to outdoor space for safe social distancing and respite in a natural, restorative surrounding. We will use this period of regrowth to assure that Harlem Rose Garden will be able to serve the Harlem community and be sustainable for years to come.

We have worked with a local gardener to create a new design to better support social distancing, provide a more sustainable garden design, and create new shade structures. We propose three small tables be placed around the garden at a minimum of 20 feet separation and the installation of a pergola to provide shade coverage for one of the tables. Throughout the entire garden, we will replant through a community effort including a memorial area where individuals will be able to commemorate a loved one who has been affected by current events. Rose bushes will be used to regrow our planted beds and climbing roses will be planted to cover the pergola. We aim to make the Harlem Rose Garden a living honor to our neighborhood.