Perry Street Children's Garden

The Children’s Garden at Perry Street Park dates back to 1988 when Isles, Inc., a self-help urban green development organization founded by Princeton University students and faculty began to revitalize the area. With a mission to foster self-reliant families and healthy, sustainable communities, Isles develops cost effective, powerful ways to strengthen people and places in challenging urban settings.

In 2005, the Founders Fund Award was given to move and expand the Children’s Garden to the Academy Street side of the Park. Soil testing revealed contamination requiring the removal and replacement of 12 inches of soil before beginning the installation of the present garden. The Award was able to provide an enhanced outdoor space for teaching gardening and ecology with an emphasis on native plantings. The Children’s Garden was able to become a community showplace.

The park project was part of an entire revitalization including housing redevelopment, energy efficiency improvements and other community projects. The Children’s Garden has grown to include gazebos, butterfly benches, a bamboo maize, vegetable gardens and much more