Project team

Head: Earth Day Coalition

Partners: W. 48th St. Block Club, Stockyard Redevelopment Corporation (SRD).

Project description and goals

The nursery will establish the ecological restoration of vacant lots with native plantings, while eventually acting as a “feeder” for other restorative projects in the neighborhood when the nursery’s maturity calls for the divisions of its plants. The overall goal, then, is to be able to develop a comprehensive “Naturehood” through vegetating abandoned properties, with the beneficial effects including the following: ecological gains via carbon dioxide reduction, cooling of urban heat zones, and natural storm water storage; social gains via capacity building opportunities for the community; and civic gains by limiting public resources dedicated to mowing and maintenance.

Existing conditions

The lots in question are residential, adjacent to each other, and located at 3116 W. 48th St. (parcel # 01614017) and 3115 W. 50th St. (parcel # 01614124). The lots are in the City’s Land Bank, and are a combined 10,000 sq. ft.  The lots are currently grass covered, are appropriately graded for planting, and have a mix of both sun and shaded parts.

Proposed interventions

The intervention involves selecting plants native to the area given their adaptation to the soil and climate. To prepare the soil (which will be tested for lead), lasagna mulching will commence using recycled cardboard, straw waste, topsoil, and mulch.  Community outreach will begin before planting (via leaflets and block club announcements) so as to encourage the utmost participatory support. Along with the actual planting, participants will identify available recycled stones or brick that can be used for the construction of a path through the nursery.  Eventually, the nursery—in its maturity—will allow for plant subdivisions that can be used to inexpensively populate other lots in the area with native vegetation, with the hopes of developing a “Naturehood”.   

Site maintenance

While the project lead will be responsible for many of the initial (and often technical) requirements to get the nursery developed, longer-term maintenance will be the responsibility of the community members as organized by the block club. Such maintenance includes seasonal duties involving the health of the nursery, as well aesthetic duties such as weeding and trash pick-up. For the initial year, a strict schedule will be devised, while for the years hence the maintenance will be on an “as needed basis”. As for watering, the project has been granted a permit to use a nearby hydrant.