PORTLAND PARKS & RECREATION PAVE PARKING LOT, PUT UP A GARDEN SPOT: MEDIA & VOLUNTEERS WELCOME - ASPHALT REMOVAL FOR NEW COMMUNITY GARDEN
Posted: August 17th, 2011 8:57 AM
Photo/sound file: http://www.flashalertnewswire.net/images/news/2011-08/1399/46899/2011_Portland_Community_Garden_Facts.doc
August 17th, 2011
For Immediate Release
Contact:
Mark Ross, Public Information Officer
503.823.5300; cell 503.823.6634
Portland Parks & Recreation Pave Parking Lot, Put up a Garden Spot:
Media & Volunteers Welcome - Asphalt Removal for NEW Community Garden
(Portland, OR) -
Join Portland Community Gardens & Depave to help create Portland's next community garden at Frazer Park!
Depave (www.depave.org) and community volunteers are going to transform Frazer park by removing 10,000 square feet of asphalt to make way for a huge new community garden.
We need your help tearing out the asphalt - please join us in making this garden sprout!
What: Asphalt removal for new community garden
When: Saturday, August 20, 2011
9:00am start - Volunteer registration begins at 8:45 am
Where: Frazer Park - NE 52nd Avenue & Hassalo Street
Portland community gardens provide healthy food, as well as a sense of community, self-sufficiency, a connection to nature, health and relaxation.
Volunteers of all ages are welcome! Depave will provide volunteers with all the necessary tools, safety gear, and water. Snacks and lunch will be provided as well.
Due to the physical nature of asphalt removal, volunteers are encouraged to wear long pants and closed-toe shoes, as well as clothing appropriate for the weather.
Folks that are interesting in signing up for a garden plot can do so by going to http://www.portlandonline.com/parks/index.cfm?c=39846
The new Frazer Park community garden is open to anyone who wants to sign up, on a first come basis. Individuals, families and non- profit groups may rent plots.
This project is made possible in part by Depave, by a $15,000 grant from East Multnomah Soil and Water Conservation District and a $5000 grant from Oregon Department of Agriculture. Portland Parks & Recreation will provide ongoing maintenance and management of the garden. The Water Bureau contributed the water meter installation and the Bureau of Environmental Services contributed soil testing. Also vital are partnerships with Friends of Portland Community Gardens, the Rose City Park Neighborhood Association and the
Central Northeast Neighbors Coalition's GardenNet program (www.cnncoalition.org)
"We are delighted to break ground on the Frazer Park Community Garden after a 2 year planning effort", says City Parks Commissioner Nick Fish. "Each garden we build helps us meet the demand for places to grow healthy food. We couldn't make this kind of progress without the commitment of dozens of partners who are devoted to the cause."
Community Gardens Facts:
* The Portland Community Gardens program started in 1974. There are 37 gardens in the program portfolio.
* Over 1200 plots are being rented by City of Portland residents in 2011. Approximately 3,000 people work on those plots.
* Gardeners rent a 200 square foot plot for $38 per year and a 400 square foot plot for $75 per year. Scholarship assistance is available. The plot rental fee pays for the land and the water. Gardeners provide their own tools, plants, seeds, soil amendments and any other supplies.
* Gardeners must use organic gardening methods.
* Each garden has a volunteer garden manager who provides garden leadership and works with program staff to provide garden maintenance, facilitate plot assignment and turn-over, and support the gardeners.
* Community gardens allow people to grow fresh, healthy food for their families. The program gives Portlanders an opportunity for outdoor recreation, physical activity and community engagement.
Background and Recent Support for the Program:
* Commissioner Nick Fish established the Community Gardens Initiative to strengthen partnerships, build more gardens, and reach new communities currently not served by the program. As part of the initiative, the program opened 3 new gardens this past Spring, with at least 3 more completed by the end of the year. Together, working with partners, Portland Parks & Recreation aims to achieve the Climate Action goal of 1,000 new garden plots by the end of 2012 and is currently half-way toward reaching this goal.
* For progress on the Community Gardens Initiative visit: portlandonline.com/fish and click on the "1,000 Gardens" tab.
For more information, call 503.823.5300 or visit portlandparks.org.
###
Mark Ross Public Information Officer
Portland Parks & Recreation
503.823.5300 (office); 503.823.6634 (cell)
Mark.ross@portlandoregon.gov
Healthy Parks, Healthy Portland
portlandparks.org
Nick Fish, Commissioner | Sue Keil, Interim Director
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