Bed Stuy Community Comes Together to Win Greenest Block in Brooklyn Contest [Photos]

Bainbridge Street between Malcolm X Boulevard and Stuyvesant Avenue is the winner of this year’s Greenest Block in Brooklyn contest. For 21 years now, the Brooklyn Botanic Garden has been hosting the contest — a face-off of window boxes and planters — in an attempt to make Brooklyn cleaner, greener, and bring communities together.

Residents spoke of a massive hose over half the length of the block that everyone shared to help water the plants. “We get out early in the morning with that hose. We have a wagon for it, and a reel,” said block resident Sid Paris.

Block members went on to speak of the sense of identity and place created by the shared goal of winning the competition. “It’s a real tight block association,” former resident Anna Baker told Brownstoner. “Everyone participates, even the children.”

This year, more than 200 blocks entered the contest, and judges considered nearly 1,000 miles worth of Brooklyn streets before they selected Bainbridge. As well as general greenery, they took into account everything from tree care to the diversity of plants.

In addition to local speakers, including block resident and State Assemblywoman Annette Robinson, Brooklyn Borough President Eric Adams came out for the ceremony Tuesday morning. “Bed Stuy is an anchor community,” he said, “and Bainbridge anchors Bed Stuy.”

Adams went on to praise the long time residents who had never given up on the block, calling them the roots of the community. They are the story of Brooklyn itself, he said.

Last year’s contest winner was also in Bed Stuy — the block of Macon Street between Ralph and Howard avenues — with Bainbridge tying for second place with this year’s third place winner.

The residential runners-up were East 25th Street, between Clarendon Road and Avenue D in Flatbush, in second place, and East 49th Street between Lenox Road and Lyndon Boulevard in East Flatbush in third. This year’s greenest commercial street winner was Fulton Street between South Portland Avenue and South Oxford Avenue in Fort Greene, with the second place going to Atlantic Avenue between Bond Street and Nevins Street in Boerum Hill.

The winners of the equally competitive Greenest Storefront competition were also announced during the ceremony. The winner is Park Slope’s Rose Water restaurant at 787 Union Street. Thistle Hill Tavern, also in Park Slope, at 441 7th Avenue, won second place.

Greenest Block Coverage [Brownstoner]