Oral History: Gail Sharbaan & Denise Shelley

Gail Sharbaan and Denise Shelley are visionary artists who blend their profound passion for cultivating connections, garden artistry and creativity into a vibrant greenspace in Co-op City.

In addition, they have spent over 20 years developing and implementing writing and craft workshops geared towards creative imagination stimulation, community involvement and positive reinforcement.

In 2013, Denise and Gail, along with Valerie Gunn, Leslie Peterson and Lelia Dickenson, set out on an adventure to use horticulture as an empowering tool for community advocacy and opened the doors of Rivers Run Community Garden. They forged partnerships with government, schools, businesses, and like-minded organizations to inspire “growth”, raise environmental awareness and artistic enlightenment, to foster an enriched community experience.

Over the past decade, our garden has flourished and l evolved, achieving ten years of remarkable success. From humble beginnings, we’ve grown into a thriving oasis of beauty and sustainability. Through a decade of dedication, innovation and the support of our community, we’ve created a space that inspires, educates, and connects people with nature. This milestone marks not just a celebration of the past but a promise of an even brighter future for our beloved garden. We are grateful for this journey!