Brooklyn Botanic Garden has announced the winners of the 2026 Greenest Block in Brooklyn contest, recognizing neighborhoods that have transformed their streets into greener, more welcoming community spaces. The contest's top honor, Greenest Block in Brooklyn, went to Lincoln Place between New York Avenue and Nostrand Avenue in Crown Heights.
Now in its 30th year, the annual competition promotes streetscape gardening, street tree stewardship and community building throughout the borough.
In addition to naming the borough's Greenest Block, the contest presented awards including the Greenest Store front, Best Street Tree Beds, Best Community Garden Streetscape, Best Window Box and Rookie of the Year.
More than 150 blocks entered this year's contest, representing neighborhoods from Downtown Brooklyn to Flatlands and Bay Ridge to East New York, as well as Flatbush, Clinton Hill, Bedford-Stuyvesant, Crown Heights, Park Slope and others. Winners were selected by a panel of Brooklyn Botanic Garden staff members, trustees and local horticulture professionals.
The initiative highlights how gardening and environmental stewardship can beautify public spaces, support healthier urban environments and bring neighbors together around shared goals. It has become one of Brooklyn Botanic Garden's signature community programs, celebrating local efforts to make neighborhoods more inviting and resilient.
The 2026 contest also celebrates the program's 30th anniversary with Block by Block exhibitions to honor past winners, a sold-out summer block party, an expanded plant giveaways for community gardeners, Lifetime Achievement Awards and the Greenest Block in Brownsville initiative.
Brooklyn Botanic Garden presents the contest in partnership with the office of the Brooklyn borough president, and with National Grid as a major sponsor.
