Revitalizing a city is taking root

West-side garden project planting seeds of renewal

by M.K. Guetersloh

September 7, 2008 | Bloomington Pantagraph | Bloomington, Illinois

Plans for revitalizing the city’s west side are starting to take root at Roosevelt and Mulberry streets.

Planting of a community garden started a little late in the summer, but the effort has brought together neighbors if not visible sprouts of green.

“We are growing neighbors,” said Valerie Dumser, a member of the Olde Towne Neighborhood Association and the gardener leading the project.

The idea grew from community discussions held after the city — along with local companies and neighborhood associations — hired Teska and Associates, an Evanston planning firm, to design a revitalization plan for the city’s west side. Another community forum is planned for 6:30 p.m. Oct. 14 at Mount Pisgah Baptist Church, 801 W. Market St.

The city offered its vacant lots at Roosevelt and Mulberry as a possible location for the garden. From there, the parks and recreation department added compost and tilled the soil. Engineers from Teska drew plans for 25 garden plots and the city’s water department installed a spigot so gardeners had access to water, Dumser added.

Planting started later than usual for a garden, but Dumser said crops such as broccoli, turnips and spinach seem to be doing well. Many of the flowers, donated by Sunburst Nursery, have perked up and started growing with a little care.

“There is still a lot of growing time for the cool weather crops,” Dumser said. “We may be crazy but we kind of know what we are doing.”

Dumser hopes to see the garden become another anchor of positive activity and community gatherings for the city’s west side, much like Friendship Park has become.

“It’s so marvelous to see so many kids get involved in this,” Dumser said. “After all, that is what we are trying to do — is give the kids something to do.”

The garden has given Marie Herrera an opportunity to grow flowers and vegetables. The Roosevelt apartment dweller lives in a building next to the garden.

When west-side neighbors received letters that garden plots would be available, Herrera said it was like getting a gift from God.

On a recent summer morning, Herrera couldn’t stop smiling as she showed off a plot packed with tomato plants and snapdragons.

“It won’t be long before I’ll be getting tomatoes,” Herrera added, pointing out several green tomatoes that were starting to turn a little red.

http://www.pantagraph.com/articles/2008/09/07/news/doc48c499d6965b4818432754.txt

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