Tompkinsville Park is a small triangle of green that North Shore organizers have spent years turning into a genuine neighborhood commons, and the greenhouse project is the most hands-on piece of it: seedlings, soil, tools, and neighbors learning to grow food and flowers in a public park. It is free, informal and welcoming to complete beginners. If you are on Staten Island and want to do something with your hands rather than look at something, walk up Bay Street.
What to expect
Expect an open, volunteer-driven session around the greenhouse and planting beds — potting, watering, weeding and conversation about what grows well on the North Shore. Tools and materials are generally provided. The park's benches and lawn are right there for a break.
Good to know
- Take the Staten Island Ferry to St. George, then walk about ten minutes south on Bay Street
- Free and open to volunteers and curious neighbors
- Wear clothes you do not mind getting dirty; gloves are useful
- Good for kids who want a hands-on task, with supervision
- Bring water — the park has limited facilities
- Bay Street's cafes and delis are a block away
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Common questions
Do I need gardening experience?
No — the project is aimed at neighbors and beginners, and volunteers show you what to do.
Where is it?
At Tompkinsville Park, Bay Street and Victory Boulevard on Staten Island's North Shore.
Is there a fee?
No, it is a free community project in a public park.
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