Established in 1982, the Los Amigos Community Garden has long embodied the pulse and life of the community and served as a local hub for neighborhood activities and events.  In an effort to expand on the growing needs of the surrounding neighborhood, NYRP’s horticultural team re-envisioned the space in 2010.

Visitors are now invited into the community treasure by a tranquil row of wild grasses that line the garden’s front gates. Two rows of raised planting beds serve as the centerpiece of the garden and feature an innovative bed design constructed from pieces of weathering steel and framed by wooden blocks.

The community gathers in the garden for weekend barbeques, where residents cook together and serve traditional Puerto Rican dishes like arroz con gandules and roast pig. In 2004, it was recognized by the New York State Council on the Arts for its cultural significance to the East Harlem Latino community.

Situated near the New York City Housing Authority’s Wagner Houses, Los Amigos Community Garden is only a few blocks from Thomas Jefferson Park and several other NYRP gardens nearby, forming a network of green spaces that dramatically improve the quality of life in East Harlem.