The greenest block in Brooklyn is in Crown Heights again
Photos by Jeremy Weine.
Crown Heights takes the crown for the best landscaped block in Brooklyn once again. The Brooklyn Botanic Garden on Tuesday named Lincoln Place between New York Avenue and Nostrand Avenue as the winner of its annual “Greenest Block in Brooklyn” competition, the fourth time the block has come in first. As a whole, the neighborhood is no stranger to the green accolades: a residential block in Crown Heights has won four of the last five contests.
The free annual competition, with 2026 marking its 30th year, aims to promote streetscape gardening and neighborhood connection throughout Brooklyn. All residential and commercial blocks, as well as community gardens, are invited to enter.
This year, 139 blocks entered the competition, 47 of which were first-time entrants, a record high according to the garden. Blocks represented the diversity and breadth of the borough, from Bath Beach to Greenpoint. The panel of judges came from the Brooklyn Botanic Garden and local horticulture professionals.
The winning residential block for this year, Lincoln Place between New York Avenue and Nostrand Avenue, also won in 2024, 2022, and 2019. The block’s gardening committee “P.L.A.N.T.” organizes the block’s landscaping, and members mentor groups who want to learn about gardening in their community.
“We at P.L.A.N.T. are incredibly proud to have started this ad hoc group seven years ago. Since then, we have made a meaningful difference not only in Brooklyn, but throughout New York City,” P.L.A.N.T.’s committee said in a statement.
“This year’s theme, ‘When the Big Apple Goes Green,’ reminds us that New York becomes stronger and more beautiful one block at a time. Our greening efforts have brought neighbors together around a shared purpose, proving that when a community plants with pride and works side by side, the Big Apple truly grows greener from the ground up.”
Last year, the garden named a stretch of Eastern Parkway between Franklin Avenue and Bedford Avenue as the greenest.
In addition to the greenest block in Brooklyn, the contest honors the greenest storefront, the best street tree beds, the best community garden streetscape, the best window box, and the rookie of the year.
This year’s second place winner was a tie between the L&S Jefferson Avenue Block Association for their work on Jefferson Avenue between Lewis and Stuyvesant Avenues in Bed-Stuy and Bay Ridge Blooms, which manages Ridge Boulevard between 71st Street and Ovington Avenue. The third greenest block is on East 92nd Street between Church Avenue and Avenue A in Canarsie, landscaped by the Canarsie Carailles.
BBG awarded Hsi Ling Chang Fine Woodworking in Boerum Hill as the greenest storefront, followed by Fishbone and Best Bites, both in East Flatbush, tied for second place. Tied for third place were Luu’s Auto Shop in Boerum Hill and Grassroots Bklyn in Crown Heights.
“Brooklyn Botanic Garden’s Greenest Block in Brooklyn competition has been a beloved tradition for 30 years, celebrating our neighbors who make our borough a more beautiful and welcoming place to live,” Sonal Bhatt, vice president of education at Brooklyn Botanic Garden, said.
“Congratulations to this year’s winners, P.L.A.N.T., and to all of this year’s participants. Your creativity and dedication embody the spirit of the contest and help make Brooklyn greener, one block at a time. BBG is proud to support this important community work.”
See the full list of winners here.
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