Creating Community through Gardens
The spring season brings the urge to get outdoors and to start gardening. Gardening allows us to reconnect with nature, the earth and grow something from scratch. Both River Trails Park District and River Trails School District 26 saw a need to begin a community garden in 2015. Plots sold fast and gardens grew lavishly. This year both the school district and park district are joining together to provide more educational resources and space.
River Trails School District and Park District will have plots ready to plant in early May, both gardens are organic and water is provided. There will be a master gardener on site throughout the summer giving tips and advice on how to get the most out of your garden this season. On Monday, April 25, 6:30 p.m. at Euclid Elementary School (1211 N. Wheeling Road, Mount Prospect) there will be a Community Garden Workshop that is free for the public to attend. This meeting will cover rules, guidelines and what it means to have an organic garden.
"Together, the school and park district combine excellent resources to enhance the community garden experience", said Dr. Dane Delli, Superintendent of River Trails School District 26. Both organizations have always had a wonderful partnership throughout the years serving the same community. "We enjoy working with School District 26 and will continue to look for more opportunities to continue to do so. It is always great when organizations come together to offer services to the community. We are very excited to work together and offer more green space", said Bret Fahnstrom, Executive Director of River Trails Park District.
School District 26 garden "El Jardin De Los Suenos" which translates to Garden of Dreams is located at Euclid Elementary School (1211 N. Wheeling Road, Mount Prospect) plot sizes are ten feet by five feet and cost $20 per plot. River Trails Park District garden is located at Sycamore Trails Park ( 1500 E. Kensington Avenue, Mount Prospect) plot sizes are twelve feet by ten feet and cost $29 per plot.
Plots are now currently being sold through River Trails School District 26 Administrative Office located at 1900 E. Kensington Road, Mount Prospect and River Trails Park District Weiss Community Center 1500 E. Euclid Avenue, Mount Prospect.
For information regarding both gardens visit www.rtsd26.org or www.rtpd.org. For more details regarding the River Trails Community Gardens contact Brad Wessel, Recreation Supervisor at (847) 255-1200.