Lincoln Park Community Garden Harvests First Bounty

After a year of planning, learning, recruiting, fundraising, and planting, the Lincoln Park Community Garden is now showing its true colors — beautiful greens, reds, and yellows — from the garden’s first harvest. (Some beautiful photos from the garden’s bounty have been posted online.)

The site of the former Lincoln Elementary School has been transformed into an organic garden by scores of local volunteers with the backing of community organizations and the New Rochelle Department of Parks & Recreation. A learning center organized in coordination with the garden will sponsor workshops on healthy living and the environment both on-site and at schools, senior centers, and other community centers.

Following on the heels of another successful community garden in Ward Acres, I am encouraged that healthy food choices and cooperative recreation opportunities are on the rise in New Rochelle. Increasing the number of garden plots in New Rochelle is one of the many recommendations contained within GreeNR, New Rochelle’s sustainability plan.

For information about participating in programs at the new Lincoln Park Community Garden and Conservancy, visit the garden’s page on Facebook, or email growlincolnpark@gmail.com.

New Community Garden Established at Lincoln Park

Following the success of the community garden established at Ward Acres two years ago, a new organic garden is taking shape at Lincoln Park. It’s a great opportunity for members of community organizations in the area to place their hands in the earth and plant something beautiful to look at or something good to eat.

Organic and sustainable, the Lincoln Park Community Garden was created by the Reflections of Change Committee, which was formed to commemorate the 50th anniversary of Taylor v. City School District of New Rochelle. That historic desegregation case resulted in the closure of Lincoln Elementary School, which was situated on the present location of Lincoln Park.

Community gardens encourage more healthful food choices and cooperative recreation. Increasing the number of garden plots in New Rochelle is one of the many recommendations within GreeNR, New Rochelle’s recently-approved sustainability plan.

Interested community organizations should send an email to: growlincolnpark@gmail.com for more information about renting plots.

50th Anniversary of Taylor Case Observed

In 1961, the New Rochelle public schools became the first outside the South to undergo a court-ordered desegregation. The “Taylor Case” resulted in the closure of Lincoln Elementary School (now the site of Lincoln Park) and afforded the parents within the primarily African-American Lincoln School District the opportunity to send their children to a public elementary school of their choice.

After half a century, the Taylor Case still shapes the physical, educational and human fabric of New Rochelle. It is a reminder that, even in a community that prides itself on diversity, the work of achieving full inclusion, equality, and mutual understanding among all people remains unfinished.

To commemorate the 50th Anniversary and to stimulate a dialogue about the critical issues raised by the Taylor Case, the School District has organized a series of public events. The next three are as follows:

Thursday, February 24, 2011
7:00pm to 9:00pm
Poetry Program: “Change, Challenges, and Children”
New Rochelle High School
Linda Kelly Theater, New Wing (Off Braemer Avenue.).

Wednesday, March 9, 2011
7:00pm to 9:00pm
Exhibit Opening at the Museum of Arts & Culture
Followed by a Reception and Reflections of Change Symposium
New Rochelle High School
Linda Kelly Theater, New Wing (Off Braemer Avenue)

Thursday, March 24, 2011
7:00pm
Presentation & Book Signing
Carlotta Walls LaNier, Author of “A Mighty Long Way: My Journey to Justice at Little Rock Central High School.”
New Rochelle Public Library
1 Library Plaza