OK, if you do the research on the LES/ East Village Community Gardens, you can't help but be touched. This one, in particular, was started by an apparent Superwoman named Francoise Cachalin, who defended this Safe-Haven from Ye Ole gentrification and didn't live to see the fruits of her labor. I'm so glad she fought for it. *Especially* during COVID/ post-lockdown era, I and other New Yorkers I've observed have come to appreciate the sacred outdoors. In the NE, we don't have good weather often, so Summer is the *best* time to take advantage of the lil free NYC perks like these. Anyway: I stumbled upon this place during my recent exploratory strolls through the East Village. What a cute gem. Ample seating for such a small space, mild greenery (we're not talking a jungle and that's OK). Some lil trinkets and garden art throughout. Totally serene, I don't see any justification for negative reviews. IF I lived down here I would *definitely* be in a place like this every. single. morning. PS: They have great deals for membership if you have a green-thumb and want to literally cultivate this atmosphere. Also, you can have group gatherings here for a *very* reasonable price, which I think is a great resource during these dark days of anti-socialization. read more

Creative Little Garden - Botanical Gardens Near Me - New York, New York

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I wish I had one of these little gardens nearby right now because today has been one big bucket of stress. But if you *do* live (or travel) near Creative Little Garden, you're in for a treat. This place is adorable and oh-so tranquil in the middle of a concrete heaven. I'm not sure who maintains this sweet little place, but it's charming, well-groomed, and the perfect spot to hide out in for an hour or two and shed all your worries. Check it out! I'm sure the set-up is ever-evolving. read more

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I decided to join this garden last week because I live so close; I've supported various gardens in my neighborhood since the 90s, when I was arrested a few times in garden protests. (Thanks, Rudy.) In fact, Françoise Cachelin--a garden activist in the 80s and 90s--was a member of this garden, and recognized the power of these small, community-owned pockets. Use it or lose it! This is one of the best examples of a "vest-pocket park" I've seen, and a good reason why I've stayed in my neighborhood. read more

Creative Little Garden - Creative Little Garden is full of sweet surprises and lots of places to sit. - Botanical Gardens Near Me - New York, New York

Tucked away down a quiet stretch of 6th Street you will find the perfect little garden. It's quiet and lush with foliage and teeming with birds. A shady little oasis with benches and a swing and a few tables.. Unlike many other community gardens, this one happens to be dog friendly as long your furry friend is well mannered and you keep 'em on a leash and clean up after 'em. Perfect spot to sit and take a quiet moment. I like to grab a sandwich from Sunny and Annie across the street enjoy it in this quiet little spot. Oh, and if you do drop in please leave a donation in the box by the entrance. They really take wonderful care of this garden and rely on public donations to do so ;-). read more

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What a gem. I visited the garden yesterday afternoon with my gf and we sat by the big tree in the back. It's a super-chilled place to hang out... there are even little birds flying around! There was barely anybody, so we pretty much had the whole place for ourselves. I can't wait to go back in the Spring. read more

I've had friends from these parts complain that it's darn near impossible to separate yourself from the energy and chaos that is NYC, no matter where you try to escape to within this 22.7 square mile borough of ours. Clearly, none of my aforementioned comrades have sauntered into the Creative Little Garden. It's an inspiring little oasis in the middle of a sea of brownstones around East Village, and it couldn't be a more quaint setting for an urban retreat. Relaxing foliage abounds, birds sing the day away, and they even have a bench swing that'll take you back to simpler times of enjoying long summer days as a wee beeb in the countryside. An absolutely charming respite from the hustle and bustle of everyday city life. Bring a book, bring a friend... just don't bring a bundle of nervous energy. This slice of Manhattan is reserved for those looking to recalibrate their qi and refocus on the important things in life. read more

After having been impressed and taken aback by the 6BC Botanical Garden, my fiance and I continued on our merry little way to the Creative Little Garden and hoped it would be open on a Monday-- and it was! We were the only ones there for most of our stay. Upon first glance, the path of red wood chips captures your eyes. Then you start to notice everything else-- the fountain, the swing, the bird houses, the many places you can sit and relax. It's yet another great location for an amateur impromptu photo shoot. At the front, there's a binder explaining the history of the garden then & now. read more

Seeing as how I'm not entirely a city girl by heart, I definitely appreciate any kind of green space in Manhattan that I can find. This small garden includes a small waterfall, seats, a few tables, and a porch swing, which makes for a great place to relax or read. I stumbled upon this garden on my way to grab sandwiches for lunch, so I brought my food back here to eat at a table in the back. Visitors are welcome, so long as you clean up after yourself. Enjoy! read more

It's real and it's spectacular. This place is flippin' stupendous, especially if you're enjoying it on a beautiful day with some Lula's. Birds chirp and no one seems to know about it, yet everyone pokes their head inside and gawks as if it's a mirage.* *Is this place new? Only two previous reviews, and both within the last month? "This lush East Village nook is part pocket park, part community garden, since it's maintained by volunteers from the neighborhood. And their work has paid off--the spot's well stocked with delightfully colorful flowers, trees and bushes, in addition to sweet little benches, potted plants, old-timey brick touches, sculptures, fountains, birdbaths, a waterfall and a birch-chip path. And if you yearn for chirping non-pigeon birds, this is your place: the Creative Little Garden is a National Wildlife Federation Habitat thanks to its hard work providing avian friends with happy little homes." read more

I passed by this place on my way to a subway​ station. Are you kidding me? When I was a kid growing up in Brooklyn in the 60's we called places like these​​s 'vacant lots' with some foliage​. This isn't a garden​, It's a​ space between tall buildings with some flowers. I'm convinced​​ you could deficate on a 2X4 and sell it for $500.00 as art to anyone under 40 living in NYC read more

The most beautiful garden I have ever seen. Its truly quaint, and as appropriately titled-creative. There are little statues, a fountain, a bird in a cage, other small trinkets, benches, several seats and a swing. I mean although it is public, it feels private and serene. The adjectives "private" and "serene" are hard to come by in the hustle and bustle big city that is New York City. I absolutely love it. Its the perfect place to read a book. Sip on a coffee. Its so quiet, that doing something noisy like talking on the phone or viewing media on your portable device seems incongruous. Why disturb the peace anyway? I encountered people having conversations and the sound of children, but it was brief... so it wasn't so boisterous. I live really far away, 30 minute bus ride to a 40 minute train ride and Its a good 10 blocks to walk from the train. So, I probably won't go as often as I'd like but its definitely worth visiting at least once! read more

Love this secret little gem. Whether to come here just to take a breather from the hustle and bustle, take a camera with you for some nice fashion shots, or bring your date here after coffee/brunch in East Village - which I have done all - this spot is definitely one of the best kept secrets from the general NYC population. read more

Creative Little Garden - swinging bench in the summer... but beware of mosquito bites! - Botanical Gardens Near Me - New York, New York

How have I never noticed this garden? I was in the area the other day and noticed the open gate. When I came in it seemed like everyone in here knew one another, very friendly and welcoming vibe. Benches, seats, a swing...plenty of of open spots to relax for everyone. A serene gem in the lively East Village. Definitely worth checking out if you're in the area. read more

We arrived fifteen minutes early for Margot Potter's book launch at Club Cumming & wandered west on 6th, just planning on killing time. What utter delight to find Creative Little Garden. An immediate decompress from even the roughest, toughest day! read more

The Creative Little Garden is small but serene. I visited on a day when it was open to the public and it was so nice to be able to sit for a while on the swinging bench and just observe and admire the greenery that has been packed into this little plot of land. People were reading and just generally enjoying themselves. There are lots of little birds that visit the garden and the overhanging trees give you the sense of being in a secret garden. My only gripe is that I like when plants are labelled in gardens like this so you can familiarize yourself with the species. Worth a visit if you're in the area but I don't think I'd make a special trip otherwise. read more

Super cute little garden. Very comfortable and quiet place. The swinging bench was my favorite. So happy I found this place. read more

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One of my favorite gardens in Manhattan, especially in Alphabet City. It's not exactly large, but it doesn't change the fact that it's charming. I've sat here for a couple of hours and whenever people pass by, they always look in and most of the time, come in to take a look. It's so well taken care of for being a community garden and it's definitely the most non-overrun community garden in Alphabet City. To see how well it is loved, you should check out their list of weddings that have been held here. A really quiet and peaceful place to just sit around/study in. Even has convenient tables to sit at. This is always a destination on my garden tour and people are always impressed, despite its size. read more

I love the creative little garden. Named appropriately, it's a quiet oasis in alphabet city. Blink and you'll miss the entrance so be on the look out! Sit and read, take lunch, chat with a friend, practice an instrument, all are welcome in this well cared for space. Word to the wise: Mosquitos are plentiful come summer, so bring your bug spray! read more

Cute little area to relax in the city. It's quiet and you can hear the birds chirping. I went here on a Sunday morning after brunch with a friend. It's a small area but there weren't that many people there. A lot of places to sit. You'll miss it if you don't pay enough attention! read more

A friend showed me this garden and I fell in love at first sight. It had a nice comfortable relaxed feel to it. When we first walked in we stopped and looked at the info stand. It was interesting to read about the history of the garden and how it all started. It's a nice place to read a book, listen to music, chat with a friend, and even have a little nap. I spent about an hour in here with a cappuccino in my hand. If I could, I would spend an entire day here. I can't wait until summer to come back. I would definitely recommend people who live around here to check out this garden. You won't be disappointed! read more

It's awasome. You can eat and drink here, read a book and practice some yoga. It is opened April - October from Monday to Thursday. You can enjoy the peaceful and quiet atmosphere while connecting with the nature. read more

In exactly one month I hope to be back in the arms of this little oasis of sweetness.

What is there not to love about this baby garden in the middle of the East Village. It's so peaceful and lovely in there and it's very well kept. Take a moment, bring a book, or just unwind after a busy day in this beautiful little treasure. read more

I stumbled upon this GEM on my way back to the subway train after getting Lula's ice cream. Sitting in a breezy garden like this in the warm NYC sun doing nothing but admiring your surroundings and eating ice cream proves that life really is all about the simple pleasures. I moved to NYC recently, so I haven't seen much, but of what I've seen, this place is probably the most beautiful and peaceful place I've been to. The garden is quaint, green, and full of fresh air. There are plenty of benches, and even a swinging bench. Beware though-- lots of people stroll in with their adorable puppies and babies, so be prepared to coo til the sun goes down. read more

Creative Little Garden - Botanical Gardens Near Me - New York, New York

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One of my absolute favorite places in NY to come and relax. Love everything about this place and cant wait to go again. Please come visit and make a small donation, places like this really make NY great. read more

This is a small little alley that is filled with an eclectic mix of sculptures, art, and wildlife. It's actually registered as a wildlife protection area due to the birds that live here. The sculptures are also really cool and add some nice ambiance to the area. Worth a glance in when passing by. read more

A very creative garden that is worthwhile to check out. The swing set is very creative and won me over. I am a fan of swings. I would recommend going in the summer because that is when all the flowers and sunlight are out. read more

Beautiful garden. So serene and quiet. Enjoy the sounds of birds and small water fountain.

this is such a beautiful little oasis when you just want to relax and clear your mind. i also love that it's dog friendly and I can bring my pup along to spend time with me. read more