FAQs about the proposed Calahan Community Garden

Proposed Calahan Park Community Garden FAQ Sheet
July 2010

Who is organizing this?
A group of neighbors from around the Calahan Park area has been working through the NPA, and with the Department of Parks & Recreation and other organizations to develop a community garden in Calahan Park.  Initiated at the September Ward 5 NPA meeting, the group sought involvement from all neighborhoods adjoining the park.  The Steering Committee has worked with CEDO and other organizations to raise funds.  If established, the garden would become park of Burlington Area Community Gardens, which is administrated by the City’s Department of Parks & Recreation.

What is the process of approving the garden?
The garden received neighborhood support when it was presented at Ward 5 NPA meetings in November and December of 2009.  It was ranked highest in neighborhood support for funding through the CDBG program (neighborhood block grants, awarded through the NPA program by CEDO).  It was approved “in concept” by the Parks Commission in February, pending a final design, parking plan, and plan for water.  The Organizing Committee is seeking public input on this final design in a public forum scheduled for July 19th, at the DPW at 645 Pine St, at 7pm.  If there are significant concerns, the Organizing Committee will work to address them.  Only when concerns are resolved will the final proposal be brought to the Parks Commission.

Where would the garden be located?
The location proposed for the garden is on the slope above the tennis courts  — between the tennis courts and Shelburne Rd.  It would be on the upper (eastern) half of that area.

PLEASE CLICK ON THE "READ MORE" LINK JUST BELOW TO SEE THE REST OF THE FAQ'S

Updated Design for proposed Calahan Community Garden

A group of South End residents has been working since fall 2009 to explore the possibility of creating a community garden in Calahan Park between the tennis courts and Shelburne Road.  We have updated the design based on comments and concerns from neighbors and the Parks department.  However, the updated design was not posted right away because we're all volunteers and it slipped through the cracks.  We are sorry for the confusion that this caused.

If you have any questions, suggestions, or concerns, please don't hesitate to contact Susan Munkres (129 Caroline Street) at susan.munkres@gmail.com or at 540-0736.

Click the "Read More" link on the next line for the updated proposed location and design for the garden...

Date Set for Public Forum

This blog may not have shown much activity since late last year but the various members of the Calahan Garden Planning Committee have been hard at work, applying for (and receiving) a number of grants and lobbying the Parks and Recreation Department to make this garden a reality. Having already received conditional approval for the new community garden, pending review of the final garden design (see graphic below), the next phase in creating this garden will begin on July 19th at 7 p.m. at the Department of Public Works building at 645 Pine Street. At that time a public forum will be held to give residents a chance to raise concerns they may have with the planned community garden, or simply show their support. At this meeting the Parks Commission will also have to give their final approval of the garden design so if you are already a supporter of the garden or are just curious to see and hear what we have planned for the hill above the tennis courts, come on out to the public forum. We can't do this on our own!