For twenty-five years, 9055 Fort Hamilton Parkway in Bay Ridge has sat largely empty, with the exception of a few privately parked cars. Most commuters on their way to Staten Island quickly pass, eager to get away from the busy intersection. But for my family, the intersection holds significance. On June 7, 1994 my grandmother, Donna Blanchard, and my four-year-old aunt, Michele Blanchard, were killed in a hit and run on the corner of 92nd Street and Fort Hamilton Parkway. 

The intersection is a harsh reminder of our loss, worsened by its unpleasant, industrial appearance. When we gather each year in June to remember them, we don't have an actual place to sit and reflect. We're often left to stand on the corner or idle in our cars as we watch countless drivers speed through the intersection. A few years ago I thought, how wonderful would it be if the lot was turned into a community garden? It would be a garden in my grandmother and aunt's name, but it wouldn't just be for my family. It would be a garden for the neighborhood.

There are plenty of small, corner gardens in neighborhoods like Cobble Hill and Park Slope, but Bay Ridge is starved for them. We're lucky to have a beautiful stretch of parks along Shore Road, but they only serve one part of our community. The Donna and Michele Blanchard Community Garden would be a place for, say, a tired nurse to rest while waiting for the B8. A place for children to try their hand at gardening by planting tomato seeds after dismissal from P.S./I.S. 104. The potential for a garden is limitless — the same cannot be said for a private parking lot.

Four years ago, I was told that the lot was purchased and there were plans for a building. Noticing that the lot remained unchanged, I decided to look into the plans and reach out to Councilman Justin Brannan's office for help. It took months to track down the owner. We found that the owner lives in Europe and doesn't have much of a connection to our neighborhood.

I've been informed that there's not much we could do; the owner collects a pretty penny from renting out parking spots. But I refuse to accept that we don't have agency in our own community. 

Join me in voicing support for a community garden at 9055 Fort Hamilton Parkway. Tell Councilman Justin Brannan, Community Board 10, and the New York City Parks Department that we want a garden for all, not a private parking lot for just a few.