Support Rowen’s journey from puppet to park with your tax-deductible donation.
Rowen challenges communities, corporations, and policymakers to bring a greener NYC to fruition.
Rowen spotlights New York City’s vacant lots that could be transformed into vibrant community spaces. This mission addresses critical challenges across all five boroughs.
Food deserts reduce availability of healthy options, affecting over 30% of residents in the Bronx and nearly 20% in Brooklyn
By providing fresh produce, one single urban garden can lower household food insecurity by 90%1
Neighborhood blight persists due to thousands of empty lots that could serve communities
Community gardens reclaim neglected lots, healing neighborhoods through collective stewardship and shared purpose
Flood zones disproportionately impact vulnerable communities, with 56% of residents living in or around NYC's floodplain identifying as non-white
Just one community garden can capture runoff water from storms, preventing flooding, by 2,000 gallons a year2
Air pollution is causing an increase in asthma cases, with some areas like the South Bronx experiencing rates three times higher than the city average
Visiting a green space 3-4 times weekly was associated with 26% lower odds of using asthma medications3
Urban heat islands create dangerous conditions, with 50% of neighborhoods considered high risk for heat-related deaths
Implementing more vegetation can decrease urban heat island effect by 2 degrees on one block4
1) NC State University, Building a Community Garden; 2) New York Times, Extreme Weather Is Soaking New York City. Community Gardens Can Help; 3) AJMC, Frequent Visits to Green Spaces Linked to Lower Use of Asthma Medication, Study Finds; 4) Environment & Health Data Portal, The Urban Heat Island Effect in NYC
Each vacant lot presents specific metrics for success, from soil quality improvement to community engagement levels. We will track these metrics through our digital platform, allowing supporters to witness their direct impact on New York's future in real time.
Creating the first comprehensive, publicly accessible map of NYC's potential growing spaces
Establishing 50+ neighborhood partnerships for immediate lot adoption through corporate, brand, and community-driven engagements
Engaging 30,000 NYC public school students with hands-on agricultural programming
Developing streamlined protocols with city agencies to facilitate vacant lot transformation
35 new permanent green spaces created by 2030
Hundreds of square feet of concrete converted to productive gardens
Expected increase in green infrastructure within targeted neighborhoods
Creation of hundreds of green jobs through urban agriculture initiatives
Measurable improvement in air quality and mental health indicators in transformed areas
