Greenest Block in Brooklyn 2021
It's more fun together!
“The contest has caused a resurgence of pride, friendship, and cooperation among the residents.” —2017 Participant
#GreenestBlockInBrooklyn
Although we were unable to host our usual Greenest Block in Brooklyn contest this year due to the pandemic, going another growing season without this beloved gardening tradition was not an option. Using the small but mighty window box, Brooklyn’s gardeners reshaped a “socially distant” contest into one that was incredibly intimate.
2021 Residential Participants
View all the residential blocks that participated in the 2021 Greenest Block in Brooklyn contest. Click the map points to see the names of the registered block associations.
Best Overall Window Box–Residential
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1st Place Tie
Althea Joseph, Preserving Lincoln’s Abundant Natural Treasures (P.L.A.N.T.s) Lincoln Place between New York and Nostrand Avenues
Crown Heights -
1st Place Tie
Carol Wilson, 300 East 25th Street Block Association East 25th Street between Avenue D and Clarendon Road
Flatbush -
2nd Place
Michele Shelton, Lincoln Road R&B Block Association Lincoln Road between Bedford and Rogers Avenues
Lefferts Gardens -
3rd Place Tie
Grahame Hubbard, Clermont Avenue Block Association Clermont Avenue between DeKalb and Willoughby Avenues
Fort Greene -
3rd Place Tie
Sandra Worrell , Lefferts Alliance Community Togetherness Block Association Lefferts Avenue between Bedford and Rogers Avenues
Lefferts Gardens -
Honorable Mention
Michelle Fields, 400 Bainbridge Block Association Bainbridge Street between Howard and Saratoga Avenues
Bedford-Stuyvesant -
Honorable Mention
Helen Wilson East 53rd Street between Lenox Road and Linden Boulevard
East Flatbush
National Grid Leadership In Sustainable Practices Award
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Leadership Award
Jenn Chen, Lincoln Road R&B Block Association Lincoln Road between Bedford and Rogers Avenues
Lefferts Gardens
“These window boxes were made with the help of many children from the block. They use a subirrigation technique learned at an online Greenest Block workshop this spring.”
Best Overall Window Box–Commercial
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1st Place
Litter to Glitter: Green and Clean Initiative, Rockaway Parkway Merchant Association Rockaway Parkway between Farragut and Glenwood Roads
Canarsie -
2nd Place
Litter to Glitter: Green and Clean Initiative, Rockaway Parkway Merchant Association Rockaway Parkway between Farragut and Glenwood Roads
Canarsie -
3rd Place
Nagle’s Bagels Tompkins Avenue between Jefferson and Putnam Avenues
Bedford-Stuyvesant
Most Window Boxes Nominated on a Single Block
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1st Place
Preserving Lincoln’s Abundant Natural Treasures (P.L.A.N.T.s) Lincoln Place between New York and Nostrand Avenues
Crown Heights -
2nd Place
300 East 25th Street Block Association East 25th Street between Avenue D and Clarendon Road
Flatbush -
3rd Place
Vanderveer Place Block Association Vanderveer Place between East 23rd Street and Flatbush Avenue
Flatbush -
4th Place
200 Decatur Street/Stuyvesant Avenue Block Association Decatur Street between Lewis and Stuyvesant Avenues
Bedford-Stuyvesant
Best Senior’s Window Box
(planted and tended by gardeners 65 and older)
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1st Place
Cynthia Cummings, 200 Decatur Street/Stuyvesant Avenue Block Association Decatur Street between Lewis and Stuyvesant Avenues
Bedford-Stuyvesant -
2nd Place Tie
Robert Johnson, Vanderveer Place Block Association Vanderveer Place between East 23rd Street and Flatbush Avenue
Flatbush -
2nd Place Tie
Vera Toney, 300 East 25th Street Block Association East 25th Street between Avenue D and Clarendon Road
Flatbush -
3rd Place Tie
Valerie Nero-Reid, Hampton, Sterling, Virginia Place & Kingston Avenue Block Association, Inc. Virginia Place between and Park and Sterling Places
Crown Heights -
3rd Place Tie
Irma Reyes, Hampton, Sterling, Virginia Place & Kingston Avenue Block Association, Inc. Hampton Place between Park and Sterling Places
Crown Heights -
Honorable Mention
Gina Barros, Southside Homeowner Association, Inc. South 5th Street between Hooper and Keap Streets
Williamsburg -
Honorable Mention
Delores Washington, Fresh Creek Civic Association East 108th Street between Avenue M and Flatlands 7 Street
Canarsie -
Honorable Mention
Jane Wright, 400 Bainbridge Block Association Bainbridge Street between Howard and Saratoga Avenues
Bedford-Stuyvesant
Best Children’s Window Box
(planted and tended by gardeners 16 and younger)
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1st Place Tie
Kassidy, Preserving Lincoln’s Abundant Natural Treasures (P.L.A.N.T.s) Lincoln Place between New York and Nostrand Avenues
Crown Heights -
1st Place Tie
Rose, Preserving Lincoln’s Abundant Natural Treasures (P.L.A.N.T.s) Lincoln Place between New York and Nostrand Avenues
Crown Heights -
2nd Place Tie
Jessie, Greener Maple 4 Maple Street between New York and Nostrand Avenues
Lefferts Gardens -
2nd Place Tie
Sanaa & Mateo, Bridge Plaza Association Duffield Street between Concord and Tillary Streets
Bridge Plaza -
2nd Place Tie
Theo, Eighth Street Block Association (8 Ave-PPW) 8th Street between 8th Avenue and Prospect Park West
Park Slope -
3rd Place Tie
Maria’s grandchildren, Fresh Creek Nature Association Flatlands 7th Street between East 108th Street and Fresh Creek
Canarsie -
3rd Place Tie
Nora & Tess, Preserving Lincoln’s Abundant Natural Treasures (P.L.A.N.T.s) Lincoln Place between New York and Nostrand Avenues
Crown Heights
Best Window Box in a Community Garden
Best Edible Plants Window Box
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1st Place
Lori Bukiewicz, Ovington Avenue Historic District Ovington Avenue between 3rd Avenue and Ridge Boulevard
Bay Ridge -
2nd Place
Burnley Duke Dame, 10th Street Block Association 10th Street between 6th and 7th Avenues
Park Slope -
3rd Place
Nacho Machi, From the Universe with Love Prospect Place between Classon and Grand Avenues
Crown Heights -
Honorable Mention
Susan DuPree, Bay Ridge Blooms Ridge Boulevard between 71st Street and Ovington Avenue
Bay Ridge
Best Indoor Window Box
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1st Place
Stephen Rutsky, 12th Street Block Association 12th Street between 6th and 7th Avenues
Park Slope -
2nd Place
Carol Reneau, 300 East 25th Street Block Association East 25th Street between Avenue D and Clarendon Road
Flatbush -
3rd Place
Sheethal Shobowale, 400 State Street Block Association State Street between 3rd Avenue and Nevins Street
Boerum Hill -
Honorable Mention
Althea Joseph, Preserving Lincoln’s Abundant Natural Treasures (P.L.A.N.T.s) Lincoln Place between New York and Nostrand Avenues
Crown Heights
Most Creative Window Box
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1st Place
Melynda Gierard, Seed Streets Brooklyn Starr Street between Irving and Wyckoff Avenues
Bushwick -
2nd Place Tie
Perri Edwards, Preserving Lincoln’s Abundant Natural Treasures (P.L.A.N.T.s) Lincoln Place between New York and Nostrand Avenues
Crown Heights -
2nd Place Tie
Shirley Stevens, 200 Decatur Street/Stuyvesant Avenue Block Association Decatur Street between Lewis and Stuyvesant Avenues
Bedford-Stuyvesant -
3rd Place
Cindy Ajredini, Bay Ridge Blooms Ridge Boulevard between 71st Street and Ovington Avenue
Bay Ridge
Special Commendations & Awards
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Special Commendation
Best Storytelling
Southside Homeowners AssociationWilliamsburg -
Special Commendation
Outstanding and Neighborly Use of Drip Irrigation
Douglas Bruha, Lefferts Alliance Community Togetherness Block AssociationLefferts Avenue between Bedford and Rogers Avenues
Lefferts Gardens -
Special Commendation
Best Building Superintendent
Ramesh Chand Charran, Greener Maple 4Maple Street between New York and Nostrand Avenues
Lefferts Gardens -
Honoring Traditions
Honoring Our Family Gardening Traditions Award
Allen Judge, Preserving Lincoln’s Abundant Natural Treasures (P.L.A.N.T.s)Lincoln Place between New York and Nostrand Avenues
Crown Heights -
Honoring Traditions
Honoring Our Family Gardening Traditions Award
Colleen Cox & Josephine Samms, Sullivan Ludlam Stoddard Neighborhood AssociationSullivan Place between Bedford and Rogers Avenues
Lefferts Gardens
Support
The Greenest Block in Brooklyn contest is a project of Brooklyn Botanic Garden and Brooklyn Borough President Antonio Reynoso, with leadership support from Brooklyn Community Foundation.
Major Sponsor, Community Greening Programs
Image, top of page: Nina Browne