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August 28, 2018Capital Roots’ Cuts Ribbon on 54th Community Garden
Capital Roots, local food access nonprofit, celebrated the opening of its 54th Community Garden on Wednesday, August 28, with a ribbon cutting ceremony in Cohoes. The new Cayuga Street Community Garden, located on 47 Cayuga Street, will open for its first growing season in 2019 and will provide space for 20 families to grow their own organic produce close to home.
The organization was joined at the ribbon cutting by Congressman Paul D. Tonko, Assemblyman John McDonald, Mayor Shawn Morse, Land Trust Alliance’s New York Program Manager Meme Hanley and Albany County Land Bank Corporation Executive Director Adam Zaranko. Local neighbors, donors and future community gardeners were also in attendance
“When Mayor Morse proposed this space for a new community garden in downtown Cohoes we were eager to partner,” said Capital Roots’ Chief Executive Officer Amy Klein. “Looking at it today, you would never imagine this beautiful land was once ridden with knotweed and covered entirely by brush and a crumbling building. Thanks to the City and all of our partners, this new garden will provide 20 families a place to gather and grow their own food for decades to come.”
As an urban land trust, Capital Roots owns most of its garden properties, so they are protected forever. Klein said this is the organization’s 29th protected green space, and each funder, partner and volunteer were critical to turning this once abandoned lot into a safe, green space for families to enjoy for decades to come.
“Transforming unused urban spaces into gardens for nearby families provides valuable food security and breathes new life into the surrounding community,” Tonko said. “Congratulations to Capital Roots and Mayor Morse for turning their inspired vision for this project into a reality.”
“It’s a pleasure to see yet another community garden established in Cohoes and the Capital Region. I have worked and supported Capital Roots for almost 20 years now, and I absolutely love the work they do as they make our communities more sustainable and healthy,” McDonald said. “The success of Capital Roots is a function of the hard working team as well as the community support which has helped grow Capital Roots, now 54 gardens strong.”
“I am excited to see another community garden come to life in our city,” Morse said. “The addition of this new garden in the heart of our downtown is another key element to our revitalization efforts that are underway and I thank Capital Roots for their continued partnership.”
Funds from the Land Trust Alliance New York State Conservation Partnership Program, the Cohoes Savings Foundation, as well as individual and business donors made this project possible. This is the third community garden the organization has opened in 2018.
