Sep

Children’s Garden & Learning Zone

Partners, Programs, Resources, Volunteers

A before-shot of the playground area. The perimeter will be cleared out to create the Children’s Garden.
Another before-shot of the playground area. The perimeter will be cleared out to create the Children’s Garden.
Volunteers in action! Some of our amazing volunteers clearing out the overgrown berry bushes by the slide.
An after shot of the first day of perimeter clean-up.

We are excited to announce our new Farm Park renovation project that we’ve spent this year fundraising and preparing for. The Children’s Garden & Learning Zone (working title!), led by our Community Council and Malaika Parker from Hummingbird Urban Farming Collective, is a space surrounding and expanding off of our playground area. We envision this space to create avenues for children to play, grow, explore, and experience the beauty and creativity of nature! The Garden will highlight and celebrate local and historical Black figures across the African Diaspora, including cultural, culinary and agricultural traditions within the diaspora. Our team is reaching out to local children and families to help guide what elements will be included in this space. Some ideas include: a dig zone, medicinal garden, “secret garden,” poetry garden, a mud kitchen, and more! Our intent is to create spaces with seasonal opportunities for kids to choose what grows, who they want to highlight and learn about, and what traditions they want to share with the community.

This project will complete work that started 11 years ago when the community came together to design the Farm Park and create a space for children to play AND grow. We are in the initial stages of cleaning out the perimeter of the playground (thank you volunteers, especially Bishop O’Dowd, Bright Research Group, and Premier Nutrition!) We are also working with partners and neighbors to get design feedback. Stay tuned for more updates!

Have some ideas for the Children’s Garden? Thought of a cool new name for the space? Want to volunteer, donate supplies, or participate in a feedback session? Email info@cityslickerfarms.org!