NYC Health Department Opens Community Garden in Brownsville To Support Healthy Food Access and Community Wellness

NYC Health Department Opens Community Garden in Brownsville To Support Healthy Food Access and Community Wellness

The Garden Creates Space For Residents to Grow, Connect, and Thrive by Participating in Hands-on Programs While Building Connections With Their Neighbors and Environment

The Garden Opens to the Public in May, Offering Fruits, Vegetables, and Herbs Free of Charge in Addition to Gardening Classes and Other Programming

April 22, 2026 - In celebration of Earth Day, the NYC Health Department announced today the opening of its first community garden at the Brownsville Neighborhood Health Action Center in Brooklyn. Designed to create opportunities for residents to meet and build relationships with their neighbors, the new garden will bring together residents, community partners, and local schools to support wellness, learning, and nutrition access. Located behind the community health center, the Health Department plans to use the garden to grow fruits and vegetables including watermelon, cantaloupe, peppers, corn, and okra, in addition to herbs such as mint, sage, and parsley. Everything grown in the garden will be available to the community free of charge, along with access to educational programming and community events. The community garden will be accessible to the public Monday through Friday between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m. with gardening classes starting in May.

"In the heart of Brownsville, we're planting more than seeds: we're cultivating health, connection, and hope for our community," said New York City Health Commissioner Dr. Alister Martin. "Our community garden is a vital step toward improving public health and empowering residents to make healthier choices, by increasing access to fresh fruits and vegetables. Healthy eating is a powerful tool in the fight against chronic diseases like diabetes and heart disease. We are actively nurturing the health of our city to ensure everyone has the opportunity to thrive."

The new community garden enhances outdoor space behind the Brownsville Health Action Center that has historically been used to host events that, in the past, have attracted over 1,000 attendees. The Health Department plans to continue to use this space for events in the future, including those that supported by the new garden.

Studies have found that community gardens give people better access to healthy food and a chance to connect with their neighbors, which in turn improves community wellbeing. By opening its first community garden, this announcement reflects the department's commitment to creating spaces that foster social connection, environmental awareness, and community-driven wellness as a means to improve public health. The garden will serve as a setting for ongoing programming, including gardening workshops, youth engagement activities, and hands-on learning opportunities that connect residents to nature and to one another.

Programming connected to the garden includes partnerships with institutions supporting educational experiences that introduce participants to gardening practices, environmental stewardship, and cohort-based learning opportunities. These efforts complement existing initiatives at the community health center that promote healthy living and community well-being and programs for all ages focused on health, nutrition, and community wellness, including:

• Mental health classes for stress and coping
• Diabetes, hypertension, and physical fitness management classes
• Cooking, nutrition, and healthy eating programming
• Community planting and gardening activities
• Wellness and health education workshops
• Youth, family, and school-based engagement
• Food access initiatives
• Community gatherings and seasonal events

The opening of the new Brownsville community garden builds on the NYC Health Department's nutrition education programs and initiatives that address inequities in healthy food access.

The Get the Good Stuff program offers a dollar-for-dollar match on purchases of eligible fruits, vegetables, and beans by New Yorkers using Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits at participating supermarkets. For every dollar spent using SNAP benefits on eligible fruits, vegetables and beans, program participants get a matching dollar (up to $10 per day) that can be used for the next purchase of eligible foods. These matching dollars are added to a Get the Good Stuff card that is scanned at the register before payment.

The Groceries to Go program provides eligible New Yorkers with monthly credits to purchase groceries for delivery or pickup. To be eligible for the program New Yorkers must be a member of NYC Health and Hospital's NYC Care program, have hypertension or diabetes and be experiencing food insecurity. Credits can be used to purchase Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP)-eligible foods and beverages through an online platform that links to hundreds of grocery stores across New York City. The credits can also be used to pay for service fees, tips and delivery. Groceries to Go participants receive a 50% discount on purchases of fresh fruits and vegetables using their credits. Participants can save up to $30 per month with this discount.

Health Bucks are $2 coupons that can be used to purchase fresh fruits and vegetables at all NYC farmers markets and farm stands. For every $2 spent in SNAP benefits at farmers markets and farm stands, shoppers can get $2 in Health Bucks, up to $10 per day. Health Bucks are available year-round at NYC farmers markets that accept EBT. There are more than 100 farmers markets and farm stands across the five boroughs every summer and fall. For days and hours of operation of locations open year-round, visit the NYC Health Map. To find a farmers market or farm stand near you, text "So Good" (or "Muy Rico" for Spanish) to 55676.

The Stellar Farmers Markets program provides free bilingual nutrition education workshops and cooking demonstrations at select farmers markets throughout NYC from August to November. The program builds participants' knowledge and skills about how and why to prepare healthy meals using fresh, seasonal produce. Workshops are open to the public and are provided in multiple languages.

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