Joe Holzka Community Garden
This public gazebo was once a private casino.
Street Address: Corner of Castleton Ave and Barker St (across the street from 1168 Castleton)
Hours: M–W 6–8p; Th–F 10a–12p; 2nd and 4th Sa monthly, 10a–1p
Website: www.nycgovparks.org
Getting there: S46 bus to Castleton Ave and Baker St, once you take the free public ferry to Staten Island
Once you arrive at the front gate of the garden: walk straight back and slightly to the right, through the garden. You will see a gazebo located to the right of the flagpole.
Your key will unlock: the gate to the gazebo.
A nice garden area. The surrounding area is very suburban. The gazebo is very quaint as well. This key location is a “getting there is half the fun” type of place. Be sure to check out Snug Harbor nearby!
I really liked your blog! It helped me alot…
Quick note : it’s BARKER street not Baker Street and if traveling from the opposite direction than the St George Terminal get off right after ROE as there is no BARKER on the left hand side of the street.
It was twenty degrees cooler inside the gazebo than outside- very cool site.
It’s very nice. Lots of flowers and bees.
I liked this site a lot. One of the community volunteers, Cathy, left a little gift for all keyholders in the gazebo. She was also very friendly and took the time to explain some of the history of the garden and the Green Thumb NYC program of which it’s a part. Very fun experience.
This was my last key to the city spot and it is definitely worth the visit. Cathy is wonderful and you MUST try the burgers (and sweet potato fries) at Duffy’s while you’re there!
http://key2thecitykey2myheart.blogspot.com/2010/08/seventeenth-date.html