Through Neighborhoods Now, MVVA, The Greenest Fern, and I worked closely with our partner Banana Kelly to re-engage their community gardens in the South Bronx. As a Bronx-based designer, I was tasked with developing the visual aspects of our solution as well as providing recommendations for engagement and communication. Early on in the project, our team Identified challenges that Banana Kelly faced at 5 of their community gardens and compartmentalized our efforts. While some gardens needed help with maintenance and developing a stewardship program, others had mobility issues or needed help with outreach to the community.

For example, at the Kelly Street garden, we encountered wayfinding and mobility issues as the garden was tucked down a short flight of stairs behind one of the buildings. This presented a challenge because we knew that 1) we needed to create some sort of signage to lead residents to the garden and 2) we’d have to find some alternative method for residents in wheelchairs to get there. Although we were not able to address the mobility issue in the short term, our team, with the help of Fried Frank, developed a blueprint for a ramp and easement agreement with a neighboring property that could work in the future. I helped to address the first challenge by designing and suggesting that floor vinyl stickers be used as a way to improve wayfinding. I also designed posters and communication material for outreach for the gardens that needed them.