Community Gardens in the Parks

Community Gardens In The Parks provides opportunities for citizens to work together with neighbors to start a community garden in a local park.  The City of Fayetteville is  promoting and expanding greening efforts in our community by providing valuable outdoor space for citizens in Fayetteville to garden together.

                                                                               

Why Community Gardens?

According to the American Community Gardening Association (ACGA) http://www.communitygarden.org community gardening improves people's quality of life by providing a catalyst for neighborhood and community development, stimulating social interaction, encouraging self-reliance, beautifying neighborhoods, producing nutritious food, reducing family food budgets, conserving resources and creating opportunities for recreation, exercise, therapy and education.

What is a Community Garden?

A community garden is a place where people come together to garden.  It can be any size and take any shape.  Churches, vacant lots, schools and parks are examples of where community gardens can grow.  Community gardens can serve many purposes for many people.  For some it is a place to grow vegetables, flowers and herbs with friends and neighbors.  Sometimes people decide to grow food for local food banks and shelters.  Some people participate because they don't have enough sunny space at home or none at all.   Some like to participate because it promotes a feeling of community with neighbors and provides a way to learn about gardening with others.

How can I participate in a Park Land Community Garden?

Two options are available to participate in the Community Gardens in the Park Program.  You can register for a plot at an existing park land community garden or you can build a community garden in your neighborhood.

Existing Park Land Gardens

Walker Park Community Garden (WPCG)

The WPCG is located in Walker Park near the Senior Activity and Wellness Center at 945 South College Avenue.

Registration sign-up is available at the Fayetteville Parks and Recreation office at 1455 Happy Hollow Road beginning Monday, April 16, 2012.

Steps to Register:
Where: Registration forms and plot sign up are available at the Parks and Recreation office at 1455 Happy Hollow Road. The following registration form can be filled in and returned to the Parks and Recreation office with the registration fee.

Garden Plot Registration Form

When: Starts April 16, 2012
What: Fees will be collected when registration forms are submitted and will cover water use and secure a plot until March 1, 2013.
Plot fees: 25 square foot bed $20/year
                50 square foot bed $30/year
                85 square foot bed $35/year
                100 square foot bed $40/year              

Contact information:

e-mail:  community_gardens@ci.fayetteville.ar.us

phone: (479)444-3467

   

Jefferson Community Garden (JCG)

Located at 612 South College Avenue, this garden is made available for use as a community garden through a partnership between the City of Fayetteville and the Fayetteville School Dsitrict. 

Jefferson Community Garden is in the south yard of the Fayetteville Adult Education Center on the corner of Martin Luther King Boulevard and South College Avenue.  The garden is surrounded with a wrought-iron fence; it has a water spigot, a sand box and a water feature.  Jefferson will be ready to garden on March 1, 2012.  Each plot is filled with a mix of topsoil, course sand and compost.

Steps to Register:

ALL PLOTS AT JEFFERSON COMMUNITY GARDEN HAVE BEEN RENTED FOR 2012. REGISTRATION FOR THIS GARDEN IS CLOSED. 

WALKER PARK COMMUNITY GARDEN REGISTRATION SIGN-UP IS OPEN BEGINNING APRIL 16, 2012.  PLEASE SEE WALKER PARK COMMUNITY GARDEN "STEPS TO REGISTER" ABOVE.  

Where: Registration forms and plot sign up are available at the Parks and Recreation office at 1455 Happy Hollow Road.  The following registration form can be filled in and returned to the Parks and Recreation office with the registration fee.

Garden Plot Registration Form

When: Registration closed for 2012
What: Fees will be collected when your registration form is submitted, will cover water use and secure a plot until March 1, 2013                  
Plot fees: Small bed (approximately 30 square feet) $20/year.
               Large bed (approximately 70 square feet) $30/year

Contact information: e-mail:  community_gardens@ci.fayetteville.ar.us   phone: (479)444-3467

 

Build a Community Garden in your neighborhood

In an effort to promote community gardening, The City of Fayetteville and The Fayetteville Community Garden Coalition (FCGC) are working cooperatively to assist residents who want to build a community garden in their neighborhood.  Park lands suitable for community gardens have been identified in each quadrant of the city.  These public lands provide valuable outdoor space for neighbors to garden together. The following parks are included on this list:

Northwest quadrant: Red Oak Park and Gary Hampton Softball Complex (next to Holcomb Elementary School)

Northeast quadrant: Lake Fayetteville Park Hobby Use Area - Park land on the east side of Arkansas Highway 265 North (Crossover Road)

Southwest quadrant: Holland Park - Park land along U.S. Highway 62 near Farmington

Southeast quadrant: Madison Natural Area - Park land off of Arkansas Highway 45 East (Mission Boulevard)

If you and your neighbors are interested in gardening in any one of these locations or have a suggestion for a park not on the list, please contact the Parks and Recreation Department at 444-3471 ext. 467

Community gardening is a responsibility which requires long-term commitment, community support and dedication by all members of a gardening group.  Gardeners take initiative and responsibility for building and maintaining the community garden.  Please join us in making the Community Gardens In The Parks a long lasting greening program that is available to all Fayetteville residents.

In order to form a community garden in a Fayetteville park the following documents are needed.  To read, review and print, click on each document title below.

Checklist

Manual for Community Garden Development

Application Form

Petition

Site and Usage Survey

Letter of Commitment

Annual Lease Agreement

A fence is allowed but is not mandatory.  If your garden group decides a fence is needed the following design and specifications must be used.

Garden Fences and Gates Specifications

 

Other Existing Park Land Gardens

Yvonne Richardson Community Center

Designed and operated specifically for YRCC's After School and Summer FUN4KIDS programs, kids and volunteers plant the garden in spring and summer at this City operated community garden. Program activities include field trips and food preparation in the outdoor kitchen.  The garden is composed of raised beds in a 60’ x 35’ area.  Rain is collected from the roof of a volunteer-constructed garden shed.  Volunteers assist with day-to-day maintenance, mentoring and educational activities.

YRCC Program Information: Yvonne Richardson Community Center

Garden information: Square_gardens@ci.fayetteville.ar.us 

Other Community Gardens in Fayetteville

Property Owner's Associations (POA), apartment complexes, schools and a transitional residential facility all boast community gardens.  To learn about community gardens in Fayetteville that are not on park lands, please visit the Fayetteville Community Garden Coalition web site.