Community gardens have been a part of city neighborhoods for years now and what began as a solution to a vacant lot has developed into one of South Euclid’s most appealing programs.
The Cuyahoga Land Bank had purchased a condemned house on Warrendale Road from the U.S. Dept. of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) for $100, demolished the home and deeded it to the City of South Euclid. City officials decided to offer the plot as a community garden and from there, a citywide gardening program developed, with outcomes that none of the participants had imagined.
“It’s a gorgeous space now,” says Sally Martin, South Euclid Housing Director. “It’s very Williamsburg-esque, with raised planting beds, a pergola, roses, special grasses, a sitting area – a five-star experience for the neighborhood. It’s an amenity, something they can be proud of.”
The Land Bank then expedited a second garden, this one on Colony Road. “It’s more country-like in design,” Martin says, “with shredded mulch and paths.” Like the Warrendale project, Colony Garden has brought together neighbors who have lived near each other for as long as 20 years, but never met. One couple even decided to buy a house nearby because they wanted to live close to the garden and help tend it with their neighbors.
And the benefits keep coming: the city is working with Notre Dame College to develop a garden aimed at kids. A meditation garden is in the works, and Whole Foods provides staff hours and in-kind supplies to help the gardeners.
“One little boy runs out of his house whenever we drive up and says, `Let me show you my garden!'” Martin says. “We’ve seen ownership by the residents this is something they can be proud of, and the Land Bank’s assistance was catalytic. Now that we have success, we can use that to leverage other dollars in the future.”
“Without a doubt,” she adds, “this has been the happiest thing I’ve done in my job.”