Buffalo, NY (WKBW) — Vacant lots scattered throughout parts of Buffalo can be overlooked in the neighborhood. But in a west-facing community, residents decided to convert the lot into gardens and a community space for gatherings.
“It’s amazing – you know there’s really magic happening here and I think it shows the power of community when you come together – you don’t even have a shared language,” says Upper 14th Street Block This was announced by Elizabeth Meg Williams, President of the Club and Founder and Executive Director, Kids Neighborhood Initiative.
WKBW
This is simplicity at its best. Domestic vegetables and flowers are cultivated by a diverse group of West Side neighbors living in a section of 14th Street.
Williams along with her neighbors led the effort to turn this vacant lot into a better community space.
During the winter he took suggestions on cards from residents about what to do with the lot.
WKBW
Neighborhood kids submitted pictures with requests for pools, but in the end, growing space was the biggest demand.
“Place to grow food – we mainly have immigrants and refugees on the block to be self-sufficient and also grow food and flowers that they can’t get here. One of the neighbors told me about a flower that he had there Growing what you know is from Burma and he can’t find it here, that’s why it’s so powerful for him to grow it,” Williams explained.
WKBW
14th Street is a mix of new and old generations of immigrants and refugees speaking seven different languages.
“There’s very little shared language, so there’s a lot of pantomiming going on and sometimes there’s a lot of confusion, but you know they make it work. As you can see the amount of progress it makes is incredible,” Williams said. described.
Garden Buffalo Niagara board member Catherine Carr Lincoln said, “It’s so beautiful to me to see these people gather – all different cultures – all different languages come together.”
WKBW
Carr Lincoln says Garden Buffalo Niagara provided a $1,000 grant to residents to help create these gardens.
“Because this is really the heart of Marvin Lunenfeld, and the founder of Garden Walk Buffalo and the entire organization – as it is now exactly what we envision,” noted Carr Lincoln.
WKBW
Push Buffalo has a lot to offer. The organization took over a lot after a house caught fire.
“That’s why Push was started – that’s why it was started. We wanted to bring people together. They are doing things for themselves where they are feeding their families. They teach the next generation How food is actually grown,” replied Push Buffalo executive director Rahwa Gahirmatzian.
WKBW
Work will continue on this vacant space to convert the backspace into a safe place for children to play.
“It’s a community that’s already tight-lipped and the kind of space that was just empty and doing nothing – now really bringing the community together in different ways,” reflected Gahirmatzian. did.
WKBW
“It’s very lively now. It’s become a community gathering place. It’s a safe place for kids to play. It’s a place for people to get resources and then just come together,” Williams replied.
Community building at its best.