Green Oasis Community Garden & Gilbert's Sculpture Garden, also known as Green Oasis Community Garden, is a 17,787 square foot community garden and sculpture garden at 372 East 8th Street, located in the East Village of Manhattan, New York City. [1]
Green Oasis Community Garden was founded in 1981. [2] With the neighborhood experiencing crime and decay in the preceding decades, the garden opened, alongside Gilbert’s Sculpture Garden, aiming to provide a safe, green space for all people, especially children. [2] In addition, the garden created space for the community, offering a space to perform theater, poetry, and enjoy nature. [2] Green Oasis Community Garden, founded by Norman Valee and Reinaldo Aranas, was created from five abandoned lots located on East 8th St between Avenues C & D. [3] [4] With the help of the community, the lots were cleared of rubble, dumped cars, and garbage to prepare for the garden. [3]
The Green Oasis Community Garden fought for survival when the local Manhattan Community Board 3 did not back its application to be spared from development. [5] In response, the gardener's organized, eventually prevailing with community support. [5]
A community volunteer organization hosts monthly clean-ups at the Green Oasis Community Garden. [6] [3]
The garden's tree specimens include a giant Blue Atlas Cedar, cherry and mulberry trees, and crepe myrtles. [7] In addition, Green Oasis has bee hives and a koi pond. [7]
In 1987, the movie Batteries Not Included was filmed across the street from the garden. The garden space was used as a staging area. At the conclusion of the movie, the people in the community used the money gained from the rental to purchase the gazebo that still stands there today. [7]
John Gilbert Ingram Sr., the superintendent of the building across from Valle and Arenas, created a sculpture garden, seeing the open lot as an ideal spot to fulfill his lifelong interest in sculpting. [8] Gilbert’s Sculpture Garden merged in the 1990s with its neighbor, Green Oasis, to create one of the most child-friendly gardens in NYC. [3] [8] [9]
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