Blog

Downtown Community Garden Updates

Update: June 5, 2024:

The Downtown Community Garden (DCG) had its grand opening this past Saturday. This was the first day gardeners were able to get into the space and begin planting. Over 50 folks came out for the event and most of the garden beds have been planted! Thank you to all the neighbors and community members that came out to attend this event!

Here is some more information about the DCG:

3 Main Goals:

  1. Build community together in a new and engaging way that is neighbor-led.
  2. Continued transformation of an underutilized surface parking area into an activated community space.
  3. Achieve the GRForward Goals of activating public space, providing affordable access to fresh food, and creating green infrastructure for improved quality of life for Downtown neighbors.

Details:

  • 55 accessible and irrigated raised garden beds, shared tool access
  • All beds have claimed for the 2024 growing season
  • Jade Rabbit is handling the education and facilitation of the garden throughout the growing season to build community and help people learn the best practices of gardening in an urban area.
  • Wormies has installed and will help maintain a three-bin composting system on at the site and John Ball Zoo has planted three pollinator gardens.

Here is the link to the survey for folks to show support and get involved.

Update: April 24, 2024: 

The Downtown Community Garden (DCG) is coming to life! Garden plots have been assigned, seed sharing and plot planning are underway! Here are the latest updates on this transformational neighborhood project:

Important Dates: 

  • Saturday, May 4: Raised Bed Building Day! 
    • We’re looking for volunteers to help us build the garden beds that will be filled with plants and produce! Join us if you are handy with tools, carpentry, following directions, or providing encouraging support.
    • 10 AM – 4 PM. 55 beds need to be constructed from raw materials! This will be a team effort.
    • Food will be provided: breakfast, lunch, snacks, water and sports drinks will be available for volunteers.
  • Saturday, June 1: Garden Grand Opening! 
    • Join us for a ribbon cutting and dedication of the Downtown Community Garden! All gardeners and supportive neighbors are welcome to attend to celebrate this important project.
    • Start time: 10 AM. Ribbon cutting: 10:15 AM. Celebration and garden goodies to follow.

What’s Taking Shape: 

  • Reducing the Urban Heat Island Effect:
    • The parking lot was painted on April 20 to protect against the urban heat island effect that can damage plants. By painting the asphalt, we hope to reduce the temperature of the space so that plants have suitable growing conditions.
    • Check out the awesome before, during and after photos here!
  • Air Quality Indicator Install: 
    • In addition to creating a green space for neighbors, we are also installing an Air Quality Indicator light for gardeners and neighbors to visualize the current air quality levels. This in-the-moment notification of the health of the air will be a way to inform behaviors, encourage action, and protect community members from unsafe air quality.
    • The AQI light will be installed in the first week of May. This is only the second light installation in the state of Michigan! Thanks to our partners at JustAir for bringing this opportunity to life. You can subscribe to air quality notifications here.
  • Skin Protection at DCG and Las Canchas: 
    • Gardening in the summer can take a toll on your skin. We are partnering with Impact Melanoma to bring sunscreen stations to DCG and Las Canchas to protect futsal players and gardeners from the summer sun.
  • Wildflower Planting: 
    • Take a look at the photo from the February update (below) to see where we will plant wildflowers to support our native pollinators!
    • We’re partnering with John Ball Zoo’s Habitat Hero program to plant wildflowers that help our bees, butterflies and other bugs to create a diversity of wildlife in the garden space – which will help those veggies and flowers grow!
    • Stay tuned for a planting date later in May.

Update: February 23, 2024:

Hi Neighbors! DGRI and the DNN are excited to kick off our Downtown Community Garden this spring! Please see some answers to frequent questions below and reach out if you would like to know more.

Goals of this project: 

  1. Reduce barriers to food access
  2. Engage neighbors in new ways
  3. Connect people to food systems within our community
  4. Activate underutilized space in new ways
  • Where will the Downtown Community Garden be located?
    • 250 Seward Ave. NW. at the North end of the parking lot. This location is along the DASH Route and a bike lane runs along Seward Ave., making it accessible by several transit modes. This is the location of the Las Canchas Community Futsal Courts.
  • Who gets a garden plot? 
    • The Downtown Community Garden is prioritizing spaces for folks living in multi-unit buildings who do not have access to a yard.
    • We are also focusing on growing food in the garden to reduce food insecurities for families and community members.
  • How do I sign up for a plot? 
    • Please complete this form (https://forms.gle/5voCDufuXwNwC81k9)  to share more about yourself!
    • We are still creating rules for use of plots, but will only allow organic practices that preserve and sustain the soil and biodiversity of the area. The plantings will not be directly in the ground, but will be in raised beds that will be handicap-accessible.
  • What events are associated with this project? 
    • All community members are welcome to join our pre-season garden workshops hosted by Jade Rabbit: Register here!
      • Wednesday, February 28, 6 PM at Downtown Grand Rapids Inc.
      • Wednesday, March 27, 6 PM at Downtown Grand Rapids Inc.
      • Wednesday, April 24, 6 PM at Downtown Grand Rapids Inc.
    • Saturday, May 4 – Build day at the garden! We will construct the plots to get ready for the season!
    • Saturday, June 1 – Official grand opening of the garden.
  • What will the space look like? 
    • There will be 50 garden plots that will be raised beds filled with organic soil, irrigated and handicap-accessible. We will also have a storage container that will be painted with a mural to activate the space with public art, and the pavement under the garden beds will be painted to reduce the heat island effect of the blacktop surface.

Press coverage: