Public Spaces

A community garden will be developed on a vacant lot in a neighborhood where residents will benefit from access to fresh food, new green space and opportunities for physical activity.

A vacant lot in a high crime neighborhood received garden boxes, an arbor, signage, lighting and a bench. While it was hard to recruit gardeners during the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, by mid-year there was more enthusiasm, including from residents of the area's Hispanic, Iraqi and Karen communities. Working with Community Crops, new gardeners were mentored by experienced neighbors. A resident who was initially dismissive of the project acknowledged that the garden improvements had helped people feel safer and made them more willing to talk to their neighbors.