The latest New Yorker of the Week single-handedly transformed a small space by a Midtown church into a beautiful greenspace. NY1's John Schiumo filed the following report.

On the busy intersection of 42nd street and Second Avenue, the garden at the Church of the Covenant is a small slice of heaven.

"It's just such a peaceful sanctuary in the heart of bustling Midtown and it's beautified the whole block, really, and neighborhood," says church elder April Sandmeyer.

For the past three months, retired gardener and neighbor John Reynolds has been moving bushes, digging, planting and watering the small plot of land twice a day, for free.

"I like to garden but it's also a landmark building on 42nd Street, and a lot of people walk by every day. And I just think the church needed a decent garden," says Reynolds.

"There was absolutely nothing here, it was like a bare piece of land," says Pastor David Michel of Church of the Covenant.

"Without John, what it becomes is a depository for cigarette butts, candy wrappers, and look at how beautiful it is now," says church elder Caroline Schoner.

Elders say the church, which was once in jeopardy of closing, now has new life.

"It has let people know that we are open and it has really revitalized the church," says Sandmeyer.

"He just came by like an artist. He saw a piece of property, that something could be made out of it, and he did a terrific job," says Michel.

Reynolds uses his own money to buy the plants and trees. He planted a willow that should grow to be eight feet tall.

"I would say easily about half of these will come back on their own next year," says Reynolds.

He says he hopes to continue to transform the small spot by building a $3,000 iron fence to protect the garden. He has already started fundraising with the church.

"Next year, we want to put plants on top of the stairs, some trees and stuff, and then fill out the whole space," says Reynolds.

He says living next door to the church allows him to check up on it everyday.

"I get to look at it every day and I know if something isn't doing right. I can see if something is going wrong with it, then I can deal with it," he says.

So, for noticing the potential to turn a bare piece of land into a blooming garden, John Reynolds is the latest New Yorker of the Week.

For more information about the garden, call 1-212-687-3185 or visit www.covenantnyc.org.

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