The Children’s Garden has sunny and shaded safe areas to sit and observe nature, as well as raised beds where children learn about the earth, environment and gardening from the garden members. Community or school children can cultivate small plots and sow seeds that over a season grow wonderfully into floral or herbal plants and vegetables.
In October, 2011, the Bissel Gardens Board members and Friends of Bissel Gardens will honor the founder of the gardens, Teresa Scalera and celebrate the opening of the newly renovated Children’s Garden. (Check website events and Calendar for exact date and time). Located at the end of Barnes and Bruner Avenues, off of Nereid Avenue in the Wakefield section of the North Bronx, Mrs. Edith Keane is the designer and supervisor of the garden project. Major funding for the project comes from a Community Capital Assistance grant allocated in 2005 by New York State Assemblyman, Jeff Dinowitz. Outreach support for green education classes to be held at the Children’s Garden provided by a Citizens Committee grant. Planned improvements include a children’s Pagoda-style, solar, open classroom, wheelchair access pathways, bird and butterfly habitats, shaded picnic and herb mound areas, and, new raised bed plots for school and student group cultivation projects.