Notice those beautiful gardens near the boardwalk in Rockaway Park? They didn’t get so beautiful on their own. Before Hurricane Sandy in 2012, beach block gardens helped add to the community character and charm. With the storm that claimed the boardwalk, went the beach block gardens. But since 2017, the Rockaway Civic Association and the NYC Parks Department have spearheaded an effort to restore those gardens once again, with local helpers. Local resident Christine James has been taking note of the beauty of the Beach 121st Street beach block garden, and the woman with her hands in the soil—Pat Fitzgerald.
When the Rockaway Civic Association put out a call for block stewards, Fitzgerald stepped up, leading what has become an ongoing group project for Beach 121st with neighbors doing their part and showing appreciation for Fitzgerald’s efforts. The Beach 121st garden features a large flagpole, with some extra patriotic decorations added this year for America 250, various plantings, rocks and even lavender, giving it not only a welcoming look, but a lovely smell.
Beach 121st Garden now.
For Fitzgerald, stewarding the beach block garden has created a deeper sense of community. “As the RCA/Parks steward of the Beach 121st Street boardwalk garden, it has become my special corner of the world. Each of the gardens has developed its own life, making neighbors into friends and strangers who drop by to say ‘hello’ and to see what’s new. I have heard ‘old country’ stories, current family happenings, and met folks who serve this community in a myriad of ways – just by working in the garden,” she said.
Explaining its origins, Fitzgerald said, “As to Beach 121st Street in particular, this is part of a long history of gardens, pointedly a post-Sandy garden. It was created in the wreckage of broken pieces of sidewalk cement left behind by the storm. Once construction of the new boardwalk began, eyes turned to the possibility of new gardens, and RCA and Parks began to plan. The Graybeards jumped in and created a new site at 121 by rebuilding the garden fence; a new flagpole and tons of soil were purchased, and, as pointed out by a young father walking his child to the beach, we were back.”
Beach 121st in 2017.
Fitzgerald says the garden has since been wholly embraced by the block. “My 121st Street neighbors have made this garden part of their lives. It is a tiny garden classroom for kids, a welcome place for puppies to stop and stare at the possibilities, a place to smile at each other and talk about the weather. Almost every single planting is in memory of a loved one; the flag flies for veterans and service members of every sort, both young and old. And our gorgeous lavender plants reach for the sun and smile at us every day.”
She’s grateful for the connections she’s made and the helping hands from neighbors like Mary Nee and others. “Not being from Rockaway, I have come to admire this little peninsula and its strength. I am honored to be part of the ‘garden people’ and am grateful to all those who continue to help me during their busy lives,” Fitzgerald said. “There are so many to thank, so I say thank you ALL and Happy Birthday, America.
Beach 121st Street after Hurricane Sandy.
