Upper West Side Community Garden Hosts Flea Market

(NEW YORK) — As summer turned to fall, the West 104th Street Community Garden hosted a flea market to raise money for the community space.

On Sept. 25, the garden saw an uptick in traffic as members of the local community flocked to the quaint garden. Volunteers and vendors sold a variety of items including home decor, clothes, and cookware. Among the crowd were garden members and general neighborhood community members.

The garden sits between Manhatten Ave and Central Park West, with the flea market being hosted in the East Lot. While the garden is maintained by its members, the West 104th Street Community Garden serves the local Upper Westside community and, more broadly, all of Manhattan and New York. 

Before and throughout the pandemic, the garden has been a space for connection, culture, recreation, and more. “The garden is a park space and is open to all when the gate is unlocked. Our members supervise the space when it is open,” said Jean Jaworek, co-chair of the garden’s events committee.

Jaworek notes: “Our last flea market raised more money than we had ever taken in from one before.” The last flea market was held this July. The garden also has hosted yoga classes, musical performances, holidays parties, and general garden maintenance events. It even held a bike registration event in August. 

Although the market has ended, the general public can visit the garden from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. on weekends in addition to posted events. Jaworek says that the garden community likes to have non-members stop by, noting that tourists particularly enjoy it. 

Membership to the garden is available for those who wish to visit more regularly. Members pay $30 per year per household to belong and agree to help maintain the garden throughout the year. A discounted rate is available for those with financial hardship. For those who join, the garden offers a space for connecting with nature and the larger community. 

The garden’s website captures its sweet, calming feeling, stating that the garden “offers the comfort of a shady gazebo, two productive peach trees, and open space for meetings, social events, and performances.” By the end of the market, as the visitors dispersed, it returned to its  relaxed and tranquil state. More information on membership and future events can be found on the garden’s website and social media pages.