Elmhurst Sculpture Garden in Queens, New York

The strips of green next to the highway offramps tend to be pretty desolate, populated with weeds and trash. The pocket next to where the Long Island Expressway lets drivers off onto Queens Boulevard was no exception, until a group of sculptors decided to carve out a space for local art. 
The space was already being used sporadically by people in the neighborhood, but it was local artist Susan Vario who asked another artist, Yvonne Shortt, to collaborate on a project to turn it into a true community space. A mission group from Texas came and did the initial cleanup, while Shortt used a Burning Man Global Arts Grant to create several pieces for the space. A series of benches spells out “Life can be,” “an adventure,” “it’s up to,” and “you.” Over the years they’ve been joined by sculptures from Shortt and other artists like a cute red hippo or a colorful, tangled heap of rope and shotgun shells. A nearby sign explains “how to relax,” first instructing patrons to ignore the garbage they may see.
The past few years have left the garden looking a little forlorn, with new artwork not being installed. Regardless, in nice weather, neighbors will still gather there for cookouts and other outdoor activities, taking advantage of this convenient oasis in a sea of asphalt.