Dave’s Memorial Gardens is an aspiration that continues from one generation to the next. David Lynch was a visionary and an instigator who passed on these traits to his daughter, Lauren.

 In 2011 Dave was diagnosed with cancer. Over the next year, he underwent chemo, radiation and brain radiation without missing a single day’s work or a single community meeting, many of which he headed.

By 2012 Dave realized that he didn’t have much time left and decided to commit his remaining time to his family and helping his daughter open her bar in West Harlem.

On July 8th Dave lost his battle to cancer peacefully at home but not before he planted the seed of his final project firmly in the soil of his daughter’s heart.

  The vision was selfless in its pure desire to create beauty and shade. He imagined lush gardens filled with colorful flowers and native pines in the barren Broadway mall across from his daughter’s first ever business, a small ‘public house’ located on Broadway between 148th & 149th on the upper, upper West side of New York City. Following in tradition, Lauren was designing a place where people in the neighborhood could meet, have a pint, and visit.

Dave began the dialogue with his new neighbors in West Harlem to help him beautify the mall. Lauren assisted in obtaining the permission from the Parks and Recreation and garnered support from the NYRP to begin the project. Dave started the fund for the mall, which has since been named Dave's Memorial Garden, with his $800 winnings from his first and last March Madness Pool. In lieu of flowers the family asked for donations towards Dave's Garden bringing the total monies raised to $5,000. Although a good start, the dirt revitalization, planting and upkeep will be substantial. Fundraising efforts will continue and the neighborhood is motivated to donate time and help.

His real hope was that by beautifying one of the Broadway Malls in Harlem, it will become contagious to all of the Broadway Malls in Harlem and its residents will work together to beautify the entire strip.