Yesterday the Brooklyn Botanic Garden held their annual Greenest Block awards ceremony, and the big winners this year were in Bed-Stuy and Fort Greene.
The greenest residential block was deemed to be Bainbridge Street between Malcolm X Boulevard and Stuyvesant Avenue—this block has entered the contest every year since 2004, and this is the first year it has won top place in the residential category.
The greenest residential block. (Courtesy of the BBG)
"This contest is not only about creating beauty with plants... At its heart, this contest is about the idea that neighborhood greening can strengthen communities and create committed environmental stewards,” said Scot Medbury, BBG president. “We continue to see a rise in the use of native plants, sustainable gardening techniques, and green infrastructure, which go beyond beautification in benefiting neighborhoods.”
The greenest commercial block was determined to be Fulton Street between South Portland Avenue and South Oxford Street—this block just underwent a $100,000 project that involved planting new trees, removing stumps, and adding tree guards to protect the new trees.
The greenest commercial block. (Courtesy of the BBG)
Here's a list of the other big winners around the borough:
Greenest Residential Block in Brooklyn
1st Place: Bainbridge Street between Malcolm X Boulevard and Stuyvesant Avenue in Bed-Stuy
2nd Place: East 25th Street between Clarendon Road and Avenue D in Flatbush
3rd Place: East 49th Street between Lenox Road and Linden Boulevard in East Flatbush
Greenest Commercial Block in Brooklyn
1st Place: Fulton Street between South Portland Avenue and South Oxford Street in Fort Greene
2nd Place: Atlantic Avenue between Bond and Nevins Streets in Boerum Hill
3rd Place: Cortelyou Road between Argyle and Westminster Roads in Ditmas Park
Best Street Tree Beds
1st Place: East 49th Street between Lenox Road and Linden Boulevard in East Flatbush
2nd Place Tie: Decatur Street between Lewis and Stuyvesant Avenues, and East 32nd Street between Tilden and Snyder Avenues
Best Community Garden Streetscape
1st Place: Bridge Plaza Community Garden, Concord Street between Bridge and Duffield Streets in Bridge Plaza
2nd Place: Red Shed Community Garden, Kingsland Avenue between Skillman Street and Maspeth Avenue in Williamsburg
The greenest storefront. (Courtesy of the BBG)
Greenest Storefront
1st Place: Rose Water Restaurant, 787 Union Street in Park Slope
2nd Place: Thistle Hill Tavern, 441 Seventh Avenue in Park Slope
For a full list of winners and more information about the contest, visit bbg.org/greenbridge.
