Community Garden Still Happening This Spring

Garden Club members have been just waiting for word whether a planned community garden will finally get started this year.

The project, which would be near the gazebo in green space at the municipal complex, has been talked about for a couple of years and club members asked city officials on Tuesday if they should make plans to get started soon.

"We're hoping that next month we'll be able to start planting," said Noreen Paradise, who presented city officials with proposed guidelines and regulations at Tuesday's City Council committee meeting.

Paradise said 18 families have expressed interest in garden lots, which would cost $18 to cover garden club expenses. She said about 30 lots would probably be spoken for by the time the garden opens.

"We want to know if we should keep pushing or hold off until next year," she said.

Council President Cathy Murphy assured her that the city wants to get the garden started this year. Mayor Scott Coleman added that an offer still stands to have volunteers from provide labor to prepare the space for the garden.

Paradise said fencing will need to be installed because there are often are deer around the municipal complex and would damage the garden.

Garden club President Helen Vladic said members also plan to spruce up the area around the gazebo by adding flower pots. She said the club would eventually like to plant perennials there, but the pots would be a start.