Hendersonville – The City of Hendersonville prepared to celebrate the grand opening of the Brooklyn Community Garden on March 20, 2025. Caitlyn Gendusa, the Sustainability Manager, highlighted the significance of this event, which marked the culmination of three years of fundraising, community engagement, and extensive planning. The garden aimed to serve as a communal space for residents of all ages and abilities, fostering connections and promoting access to fresh food.
Community Needs and Collaborative Efforts
The Brooklyn Community Garden was originally established in 2011 to meet the needs of the Green Meadows community. Gendusa explained that the garden specifically addressed the lack of access to fresh fruits and vegetables while simultaneously building relationships among community members. Its strategic location within walking distance of Green Meadows and proximity to the Boys and Girls Club enhanced its role in promoting farm-to-school education.
“The garden is uniquely located within walking distance of the Green Meadows Community,” Gendusa noted. “In addition, the garden’s proximity to the Boys and Girls Club as well as a special dedication of a children’s garden in remembrance of community advocate, Crystal Cauley symbolizes the benefit the garden provides of farm-to-school education by introducing children to the concept of growing food.”
The establishment of the garden was a collaborative effort involving various stakeholders. Gendusa shared that it began with a partnership between dedicated community members and the City Council, which designated city property for the garden. In 2022, key figures such as Liz Curtis, Ronnie Pepper, Crystal Cauley, and Jane Grossman convened to discuss expanding and revitalizing the garden. Their collective efforts resulted in securing over $50,000 in grant funding from multiple partners, including Healthy Babies Bright Futures and the Community Foundation of Henderson County.
“The project has taken over three years with Jane Grossman as project manager alongside City of Hendersonville staff,” Gendusa explained. “These members’ collaborative efforts resulted in over $50,000 of grant funds awarded to the project from partners.”
Fostering Engagement and Sustainability
The Brooklyn Community Garden was envisioned as a hub for community engagement and environmental education. Gendusa emphasized that the garden would feature a variety of plots, including communal, individual, and those designated for non-profit organizations. This diversity aimed to encourage participation from all community members, with priority given to residents of Green Meadows.
“The garden is a hub for community collaboration and engagement,” she stated. “There is a wealth of generational garden knowledge within the Green Meadows community that we hope to highlight as part of the garden’s identity.”
To ensure inclusivity, the garden incorporated several accessibility features. Gendusa pointed out that an ADA-accessible path and raised garden beds were designed to accommodate individuals with mobility challenges. Additionally, sustainability measures included a compost area, rain barrels, and pollinator plantings.
“A proud aspect of the garden’s expansion and revitalization vision is ensuring ADA accessibility,” Gendusa remarked. “The garden features an ADA-accessible permeable path as well as ADA-raised garden beds for easy access to members in wheelchairs and other mobilities and ages.”
As the grand opening approached, excitement grew among community members eager to witness the transformation of the Brooklyn Community Garden into a vibrant space for learning, gathering, and growing together.