Prospect-Lefferts Gardens Has the Greenest Block in Brooklyn

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It took 10 years and the effort of almost the entire block, but Sterling Street between Washington and Bedford aves. is now the Greenest Block in Brooklyn. Photo: BBG

It took 10 years and the effort of almost the entire block, but Sterling Street between Washington and Bedford aves. is now the Greenest Block in Brooklyn. Photo: BBG

Every year, the Brooklyn Botanic Garden offers up an urban equivalent of having the best kept lawn on your block, in the form of its Greenest Block in Brooklyn contest. This year, almost 200 blocks across 25 neighborhoods in the borough pruned, planted and beautified their streetscapes in an effort to earn botanical bragging rights for the next 12 months. From mid-June through July a panel of 20 judges comprised of journalists and professional horticulturist looked for Brooklyn’s greenest block based on color and total visual effect, citizen participation, variety and suitability of plants, soil condition and use of mulch, street tree and tree bed care and all-around best horticultural practices. The winner of the residential competition was Sterling Street between Bedford and Washington avenues, which, after having entered the competition every year for the past 10, finally took first place. The winning residential block had almost 100% participation from the 60-80 houses on its street–which is impressive and pretty unprecedented in the 19 years since the competition started. Here’s a full list of winners and categories.

 2013 Winners

Greenest Residential Block in Brooklyn

1st Place: Sterling Street between Washington and Bedford Avenues (entered by B&W Sterling Street Block Association, Prospect-Lefferts Gardens)

2nd Place: Sterling Place between Flatbush and 7th Avenues (entered by Sterling Place Block Association, Park Slope)

3rd Place: 8th Street between 8th Avenue and Prospect Park West (entered by 8th Street Block Association, Park Slope)

 Greenest Commercial Block in Brooklyn

1st Place: Atlantic Avenue between Bond and Nevins Streets (entered by the Mid-Atlantic Block Association, Boerum Hill)

2nd Place: Montague Street between Clinton and Henry Streets (entered by the Montague Street BID, Brooklyn Heights)

National Grid Leadership In Sustainable Practices Award

8th Street between 8th Avenue and Prospect Park West (entered by 8th Street Block Association, Park Slope)

Best Street Tree Beds

1st Place: Macon Street between Ralph Avenue and Howard Street (entered by the Macon Street Ralph/Howard Block Association, Bedford-Stuyvesant)

2nd Place: Vanderveer Place between Flatbush Avenue and East 23rd Street (entered by the Vanderveer Place Block Association, Flatbush)

3rd Place: East 49th Street between Lenox Road and Linden Boulevard (entered by the East 49th & East 48th Street Block Association, East Flatbush)

Greenest Storefront

My Brooklyn Baby; 692 Fulton Street (entered by the Brooklyn Love Building Merchant Association, Fort Greene)

Best Window Box

1st Place: Ms. Melita Shepard, 333 East 25th Street (entered by 300 East 25th Street Block Association, Flatbush)

2nd Place: Ms. Hazel Deane, 338 East 25th Street (entered by 300 East 25th Street Block Association, Flatbush)

Best Community Garden Streetscape

1st Place: Bridge Plaza Community Garden; Concord Street between Bridge and Duffield Streets, Bridge Plaza

2nd Place: Fulton Ferry Historic Gardens; Old Fulton Street between Front Street and BQE, Brooklyn Heights

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