Schuylkill River Park Community Garden facts for kids
The Schuylkill River Park Community Garden (SRPCG) is a special community garden in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. It has about 70 garden plots, covering more than 22,000 square feet of land. This garden is unique because it sits on land that is part of Fairmount Park, one of Philadelphia's big park areas.
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History of the Garden
The land where the garden and Schuylkill River Park are today used to be a train station for the B&O Railroad. There were also brickyards here. In the early 1980s, people started making their own garden plots. They used cinder blocks and scrap wood to create borders for their gardens. They grew plants happily for several years.
Then, in 1984 or 1985, the City of Philadelphia bought the land. The city planned to make it part of the new Schuylkill River Park. However, their plans did not include the garden. The city's Managing Director at the time, Leo Brooks, lived nearby. He did not like seeing a bare patch of land in the winter. So, like many community gardens, the future of this one was uncertain.
Luckily, many people worked hard to save the garden. The Center City Residents' Association, led by Bob Davidson and other neighbors, spoke up for the garden. Ernesta Ballard, who was a commissioner of Fairmount Park, also gave strong support. She later became president of the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society.
Because of these efforts, the City agreed to keep the garden as part of the Park. But it needed major improvements to look good all year, even in winter. John Collins, who designed Schuylkill River Park, was given this job. When the work was finished in 1988, the City of Philadelphia leased the land to the Center City Residents' Association. This group still manages the garden today through its Steering Committee.
The Schuylkill River Park Community Garden is very special. In 2007, it became part of the Smithsonian Institution’s Archives of American Gardens. This means its history is preserved. In 2009, the garden joined the PHS City Harvest Program. Then, in 2010, it became a National Wildlife Federation certified Wildlife Habitat. This shows it's a good place for local animals and plants.
What the Garden is Like Today
The garden still looks much like it did after its 1988 renovation. It is a lively green space in the city. It's a place for people to garden and to build a sense of community. To make sure many people can use the garden, gardeners can only have a plot for six years. After that, they must give up their plot and join a waiting list before they can get another one.
Like most community gardens, the SRPCG has rules about who can get a plot. You must live within certain boundaries, which are the same as those for the Center City Residents' Association. Even with these rules, people often wait 1 to 3 years to get a garden plot.
Helping the Community
Since 2009, gardeners have been donating hundreds of pounds of fresh food every year. This food goes to people who need it through the City Harvest Program. Gardeners also work with local schools. They help students learn about gardening.
The City Harvest Program starts in Philadelphia Prisons. There, inmates grow seeds into small plants. These young plants are then given to community gardens like SRPCG. Gardeners grow them into fresh fruits and vegetables. The harvested food is then donated to local food cupboards. These cupboards give the food to families in need. In 2010, the SRPCG donated over 500 pounds of food. Linda Zaimis, a gardener, led this program from 2011 to 2013.
Garden Improvements
In 2008, the garden began a big project to fix things up. Derek Freres, who was the garden chair from 2008 to 2011, led this effort. The garden was 20 years old and needed repairs. They replaced old plot borders, added new lighting, and improved the irrigation system. They also fixed and replaced benches and upgraded the plumbing.
In total, over $40,000 was raised for these improvements. A large part of this money came from the gardeners themselves. During these years, they also created a special fund for future maintenance. A small part of the plot fees paid by gardeners each year goes into this fund. This helps make sure the garden stays beautiful for a long time.
