NYC Dept of Parks and Recreation
1 Bronx River Parkway
Bronx, NY 10462

Dear Commissioner Aponte,

We recognize and support The BLK Projeks efforts to integrate the proposed Libertad Urban Farm into the existing plans to renovate the Fox Playground. We applaud the past efforts of community organizations and the Park Department to renovate the playground to meet the needs of the community, however, one need that we feel that this piece of land could also serve is to provide organic, healthy food to a neighborhood that already lay victim to some of the most heinous environmental injustices including food justice. Incorporating this component into the existing plan also makes perfect fiscal sense as it comes with a built in labor force in the form of sweat equity from the community, the BLK Projek has and will continually work to diligently raise funds for this project alleviating much financial responsibility from an already overburdened department and city and lastly but most importantly this farm will act as an impetus for utilizing agriculture as a form of viable community development. Examples of this can be seen in other urban farms such as Added Value and East New York Farms both in Brooklyn, NY.

This proposed project has already attracted much local and citywide attention this is a testament to its potential. More importantly, there has already been much support from the immediate community and will only grow. We feel it would be remiss not include this component into the current renovations. Therefore, we implore you to work with the Longwood/Hunts Point community and The BLK ProjeK to realize this vision.

We thank you in advance and look forward to working with the Parks Department to plant the first seeds of change.