Greenway Botanical Garden: A New Era for the Naval Cemetery
Greenway Botanical Garden: A New Era for the Naval Cemetery
Ten years ago, this landscape was opened to the public with a simple but ambitious vision: to create a place of pause along the Brooklyn Waterfront Greenway. Guided by the stewardship of Brooklyn Greenway, the site has since evolved into something greater than was initially planted. Over a decade of growth, conservation, and care, a remarkable diversity of plants, insects, birds, and other wildlife has taken root here, transforming the landscape into a thriving ecological community.
Previously fenced off and largely forgotten, the Naval Cemetery's history and significance were known to few. The design by Nelson Byrd Woltz and Marvel sought to honor that history while reimagining the site's place within the city. A native meadow and pollinator habitat were established above sacred ground, while an elevated boardwalk allows visitors to experience the landscape without disturbing what lies beneath.
Recognized by Botanic Gardens Conservation International, the site now officially takes on a new name: Greenway Botanical Garden at the Naval Cemetery. This change marks the culmination of that first decade of growth and stewardship, and is the first-ever botanical garden in NYC to be accredited by Botanical Gardens Conservation International.
“This transformation offers a reminder that landscapes, like cities, are never finished. Along the waterfront—where land and water, history and ecology continually meet and adapt—this place stands as evidence that time, care, and thoughtful design can turn a forgotten site into a living garden, a public resource, and a monument to renewal.” -Scott Demel, Partner at Marvel, lead architect of the Naval Cemetery project, and BGI Board Member for many years.
Ten years ago, this landscape was opened to the public with a simple but ambitious vision: to create a place of pause along the Brooklyn Waterfront Greenway. Guided by the stewardship of Brooklyn Greenway, the site has since evolved into something greater than was initially planted. Over a decade of growth, conservation, and care, a remarkable diversity of plants, insects, birds, and other wildlife has taken root here, transforming the landscape into a thriving ecological community.
Previously fenced off and largely forgotten, the Naval Cemetery's history and significance were known to few. The design by Nelson Byrd Woltz and Marvel sought to honor that history while reimagining the site's place within the city. A native meadow and pollinator habitat were established above sacred ground, while an elevated boardwalk allows visitors to experience the landscape without disturbing what lies beneath.
Recognized by Botanic Gardens Conservation International, the site now officially takes on a new name: Greenway Botanical Garden at the Naval Cemetery. This change marks the culmination of that first decade of growth and stewardship, and is the first-ever botanical garden in NYC to be accredited by Botanical Gardens Conservation International.
“This transformation offers a reminder that landscapes, like cities, are never finished. Along the waterfront—where land and water, history and ecology continually meet and adapt—this place stands as evidence that time, care, and thoughtful design can turn a forgotten site into a living garden, a public resource, and a monument to renewal.” -Scott Demel, Partner at Marvel, lead architect of the Naval Cemetery project, and BGI Board Member for many years.