With the environmental nonprofit GrowNYC, Spencer has contributed to over 100 open space projects covering 20 acres of public land in New York City. These are grassroots efforts with community members, city government partners, and other stakeholders to support social wellbeing and environmental justice.

Sunset Garden, Queens - This 10,000 square-foot space was built on a vacant hillside lot and serves a growing community group in Queens. The garden contains over 30 raised beds for growing food, a large pollinator meadow on a slope, an accessible pathway, and two community gathering areas. A shade structure captures water into a 750-gallon rainwater tank, while a three-bin compost systems helps process neighborhood waste.

Franklin Memorial, The Bronx - This 5,000 square-foot green space in The Bronx was renovated to include new raised beds and planters, a rehabilitated pergola, and an updated pathway. The garden serves older community members and provides a much needed green space in the neighborhood.

Mobilization for Change, Manhattan - This green infrastructure system in a garden in Manhattan collects water from a storage structure into a rainwater harvesting tank. The overflow from the system drains water into a rain garden, which also draws water from the foundation of the neighboring building. An overhang creates space to store a large composting system.