Brooklyn Avenue Block Association - Meeting Notes

BABA Takes on the Greenest Block in Brooklyn Contest

In September of 2024, when BABA (the Brooklyn Avenue Block Association) was formed, I invited Perri Edwards to come to our meeting and tell us about the experience of PLANT (Preserving Lincoln's Abundant Natural Treasures) on Lincoln Place with the Greenest Block in Brooklyn contest, which they had won back in 2019 and then several more times.  Perri brought up a display with photos and text explaining what they did.  The amount of varied and copious greenery she showed in the pictures was very impressive.  One person in particular was inspired by what he saw and that was Dung La, president of BABA.  He told Perri that some day BABA would take this prize.  Perri laughed and said to go for it and that PLANT would offer whatever assistance they could.

BABA had already passed around a petition to have more trees planted on Brooklyn Avenue from Lincoln Place to St. Johns Place.  One hundred and fifty signatures had been accumulated and sent to Michelle George, the District Manager at Community Board 8.  She was impressed by the high level of support and forwarded the petition to the Parks Department; they are in charge not just of parks but also of street trees.  There the petition lingered.  To gain more support for this proposal, BABA endorsed an initiative made in the Crystal Hudson's 35th council district to plant more trees in Crown Heights.  BABA campaigned for this proposal, and it won enough votes to pass.  However, the idea was a general one, and efforts to get the trees planted have so far been unavailing, especially as the Parks Department started planting numerous trees on Eastern Parkway to replace ones that had died after they were planted to celebrate soldiers who gave their lives in World War I.

Not having a good tree cover was a detriment for the block.  The block where PLANT worked was completely covered with mature trees which enhanced the air, climate and beauty of that block.  Nevertheless Dung La was ambitious, and he had already done some work that improved the greenery of Brooklyn Avenue.  When a sycamore was taken down opposite 251 Brooklyn Avenue because it kept losing large branches, Dung got permission to put in a cherry blossom tree.  That tree did remarkably well; over the years it has grown much larger.  At the same time, my wife and I put in a peach tree in front of 262 on the same block, and it too has grown very well, producing crop after crop of peaches.

Photo of Kelly, Ava and Dung

Dung's appetite to do more planting continued to grow.  In addition to putting up a Little Library, which contained plants in the box that contained it, he did a lot of work around it.  He built a wooden rectangle around a Redwood Fir Free and put plants in that and then another wooden box containing a Japanese Maple.  Also a small white barrel appeared with plants and other planters trailing off to the south towards Lincoln Place.  There were two rain gardens on the block and after several people became Rain Garden Stewards, these were improved.  Dung put a Magnolia Tree in one and I put in a Hackberry in the other, and further plants were added so that today the two gardens are filled with all kinds of vegetation.  Sandra Layne who lives on Lincoln between Brooklyn and New York Avenues, sent over three small fir trees, and these were placed between the two rain gardens.  Also Sandra sent a white birdcage, and this Dung cleverly hung from a street sign and put a plant in it.  Dung also filled a tub with water and put some gold fish in it, but these have not fared well.

Finally the issue came up, should the block compete in the Greenest Block in Brooklyn contest.  This was discussed at the May 19 Block Association meeting, and the answer was: If Dung wanted to lead this effort, the rest of the block would give him whatever support they could.  This would entail getting wood to build containers, getting other containers such as metal or wooden tubs, soil either from the city or from stores, plants, either given away or purchased, and money from the modest savings of the block association.  Dung agreed to try, an application was put in and more activity ensued.

Dung next moved to put in greenery further north.  In front of 249, where the Tzukerniks live, he put in three tubs and a wooden box.  Shimona Tzukernik had already contributed a rose bush to be planted with the cherry blossom tree; now she gave a small peach tree that went into one of the tubs and was supported by a street sign, and flowers went into the other three containers.

      Photo of the Block looking South on the East side

This was the situation when the first judging was scheduled by the Botanic Garden.  The first attempt was canceled when the judge got sick, but a second one was quickly scheduled.  A judge came with no forewarning and issued a report that was attached to a resident's door.  The report was dated June 26, and the news was almost all good.  On one side of the report was a check list.  Under tree care every item except one was checked, under soil care every item was checked, under participation all the items but one were checked.  Under biodiversity the two items were checked.  However, use of space only got one of four, but BABA got full marks for litter management.  The summary comment on the back was all positive;  “Beautiful block with some great potential.”  And it ended with: “Keep up the good work!”

The encouragement led to more work.  Residents signed up to get free soil first at the Old Stone House in Washington Park in Park Slope and then at Brower Park on July 18.  Dung kept building wooden containers.  But then the complete results of the first round came out, and BABA was informed that we would “not advance to the second round...”  This was not a surprise.  We knew that this year was a trial run.  Almost all our planting was on one side of the street, and we lacked the cover of large trees at the south end of the block.  So we were satisfied with the good initial report we got and also there were other categories where we could still win.  Foremost of these was “Rookie of the Year.”  So we decided to keep working with the hope of a prize this year and more success in the future

Photo of Althea and Perri, the leaders of PLANT

However, we did not get the any of the runner up prizes and no one was surprised when PLANT won the award for the Greenest Block in Brooklyn.  It was perhaps the sixth time they had won an award.  This first experience only whetted our appetite.  We have a better looking block and growing ambition.  I feel sure BABA will be entering the contest next year

– John DeWind