This summer, Iowa City residents will have a new place to grow fresh produce, plot-by-plot.
A city-sponsored community garden entitled Chadek Green will open at the intersection of Friendship St. and 5th Ave., and should be available for public use this summer, officials say. The property spans 5.2 acres, and once completed will have between 50-75 gardening plots, according to Tammy Neumann, administrative secretary for the Parks and Recreation Department.
Iowa City’s community garden plots cost between $12 and $24, depending on size. Neumann said the public will be able to begin purchasing plots at Weatherby Park and Chadek Green beginning on April 1, though the number of plots that will be available is unknown at this time.
Josh and Amy Busard, who requested the City Council look into expanding gardening opportunities earlier this month, said they enjoy the fresh food and educational opportunities gardening provides for them and their children, as well as the camaraderie with friends and neighbors. Amy thinks the city should diversify the locations of the community gardens to make them more accessible by foot or bike to reduce carbon footprints.
Last year, there were two community gardens in Iowa City. The location at Weatherby Park has 110 plots of land of various sizes and was operated by the City. New Pioneer Co-Op sponsored Earth Source Gardens at the intersection of Rochester and Scott Boulevard. New Pi’s Education & Outreach Coordinator Theresa Carbrey said their sponsorship of the Earth Source Gardens will not continue in 2015 because they no longer have the location secured. New Pi’s community garden was comprised of 6,000 square feet and served over 100 Co-Op owners.
Edit: A previous version of this article stated that the Chadek Green community garden will span 5.2 acres. Little Village regrets this error.
I am not sure about the accuracy of the statement saying that the gardens will occupy the entire 5.2 acre site, but I believe there will be somewhere around 100 plots there. My understanding is that the parks department will be working with neighborhood residents to plan the park later this year, but they are open to ideas that will make gardening and edible landscapes a central feature of the park.
I live across the street from Chadek Green. A large group of garden advocates met with the Iowa City Parks & Rec Department about a month ago. The total park is 5.2 acres. The SE corner of the park will be reserved for Community Gardens and it is about 1 acre.
I wish we had something like this around where I live! I would’ve loved to have had somewhere to go and garden back when I was stuck living in an apartment.
Then again, my desire to have a garden was a huge motivating factor in me finally finding and buying a house 🙂