Neighbors, gardeners, and community leaders gathered in East Germantown on May 14 to celebrate the grand reopening of the Nicholson Church Lane Community Garden (NCLCG), a cherished neighborhood green space that has connected residents through food, friendship, and stewardship for nearly 50 years.
The ribbon-cutting ceremony marked a new chapter for the historic .32-acre garden at 234–48 East Church Lane, which now features major accessibility and infrastructure upgrades designed to serve the community for generations to come.
Founded in 1978 by Chris and Helen Nicholson, the garden transformed a vacant lot into a thriving hub for growing fresh produce, sharing resources, and building neighborhood connections. Today, the revitalized site includes 34 individual garden plots, expanded gathering areas, raised beds, wheelchair-accessible pathways, upgraded irrigation systems, a new shade structure, and improved community spaces for meetings, events, and children’s play.
The extensive $240,000 renovation was made possible through a collaborative effort between Neighborhood Gardens Trust (NGT), the Nicholson Church Lane gardeners, and Philadelphia-based landscape architecture firm Apiary Studio and more than fifty project funders and donors including Philadelphia Department of Housing and Community Development and USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service. The project was also supported through leadership gifts from many local foundations and Northwest Philadelphia residents. See the full list here.
“This garden has always been about neighbors coming together to care for one another,” said Christina Smith, NCLCG board president. “Seeing it come back to life reminds us of what’s possible when we invest in shared spaces.”
The celebration featured live music by Jim Dragoni, remarks from community leaders and project partners, a ceremonial ribbon cutting, and a guided garden tour led by Apiary Studio. Speakers included Nicholson Church Lane Garden, Pennsylvania Horticultural Society (PHS), the Nicholson family, and State Representative Andre D. Carroll.
Jenny Greenberg, executive director of NGT, described the renovation as the organization’s largest garden restoration project to date.
“This project is about preserving a legacy,” Greenberg said. “Chris and Helen Nicholson worked with their neighbors over many years to create something beautiful and lasting. This permanently preserved garden will continue to feed and support the Germantown community for generations to come.”
The garden’s roots trace back to a pivotal moment in Germantown’s history. The land had once been cleared for a highway project that was never completed, leaving behind empty lots and displacement. Through the leadership of the Wister Neighborhood Council and dedicated residents, the site was transformed into a productive and welcoming community space.
In 1991, NGT acquired and permanently preserved the property, ensuring long-term community access. Over the decades, generations of residents have grown food for their families and donated produce through the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society’s City Harvest Program, helping address food insecurity in the neighborhood.
For the Nicholson family, the reopening represents both a tribute to the past and hope for the future.
“We’re thrilled to know the garden lives on as an asset to the neighborhood,” said Kathy Paulmier, daughter of founders Chris and Helen Nicholson. “Those first gardeners transformed the rubble of demolished houses into a fertile green haven during a turbulent time. With the support of so many partners, this unique place of beauty continues to grow.”
As the growing season begins, Nicholson Church Lane Community Garden stands as a powerful reminder of what community-led investment can cultivate: healthy food, shared purpose, and lasting neighborhood resilience.