Project team

Lead: South Point Block Club

Partners: Westown Community Development Corporation

Project description and goals

The project will supplement an existing neighborhood garden, leading to a large pocket of functional green space within the block. The goals involve creating ecological diversity in the neighborhood, as well as facilitating access to fresh food and the maintenance of land values via beatification and investment. The garden will also help an existing community fabric strengthen by providing another gathering place.

Existing conditions

The parcels (019-21-091 and 019-21-092) were once residential lots, with the blighted structures removed a few years back. Adjacent to the lot is an existing community garden as well as a house currently under renovation. The existing landscaping on the lot includes a lilac bush and a mature tree.

Proposed interventions

After soil preparations, the lot will be divided into sections, with eight new garden plots planned.  Fences will be erected surrounding the perimeter, with a lockable wrought iron fence gate lining the lot. An iron fence will also be erected to separate the existing garden from the proposed garden. A gutter will be installed on the rear of a tool shed that is currently used for the existing garden, with the gutter being connected to two newly installed rain barrels. Near the tree, wood benches will be installed for seating, and recycled brick will be used to create a walking path.  ‘Low mow’ grass and native plantings will also be installed strategically around the garden sites.

Site maintenance

Mowing will be provided by Westown CDC, with supplemental trash clean-up and landscaping provided by Court Community Service. The bulk of the work, though, will be done by the block club members, and the work will divided using the same method that is currently underway for the existing garden site. Watering will be accomplished through the rain barrel system.