Groundwork Lawrence operates a growing network of community gardens, providing another source of fresh food to Lawrence residents, while transforming formerly vacant and often contaminated open space into attractive and productive community gathering spots. Gardens located at Union/Mechanic, Dr. Nina Scarito Park, Manchester Street Park, and Cronin Park are cultivated and maintained by local resident gardeners. In addition to these already functioning gardens, the City will be building 3-5 additional gardens which will be opening in 2011. Be sure to check in for more details on these developing sites! Some of our community gardens have openings, if you are interested in a garden plot please email Janel or call her at (978) 974-0770.

Garden Bylaws (pdf)
Garden Flyer (pdf)
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Cronin Park Garden

In July of 2010, our most recent park site, Cronin Park, had its official ribbon cutting. There are currently 9 raised garden beds (18 gardening spaces) at this location with many spots still available for gardening. At the time of its opening local students helped plant veggies in two of the new garden beds that the Tarbox School will be using for schoolyard gardening education next fall! If you are interested obtaining a bed at Cronin Park contact Janel, or call her at (978) 974-0770.

Manchester Street Garden

Along with the Manchester Street Park, the Manchester Street Garden was opened in the fall of 2009. This garden contains 31 raised beds and a compost station. The Manchester Street Park offers great new green space and serves as a spectacular anchor for the developing Spicket River Greenway.

Brook Street Garden

The Brook Street Gardens are located at Dr. Nina Scarito Park and were opened in 2006. This site was the product of a 6 year process to bring a safe and fun park and garden site for community members to utilize. Residents use the 17 raised garden beds at this location to grow a variety of flowers and vegetables as well as herbs used for cooking.

Union & Mechanic Alleyway Garden

Groundwork Lawrence, through it's land trust subsidiary, GWL Recreational Access, Inc. established Lawrence’s first community garden with the building of the Union & Mechanic Alleyway Garden in April 2006. The Union & Mechanic Alleyway Garden contains 8 large raised beds with a total of 16 gardening spaces. The Union & Mechanic Gardens use a palette of Low-Impact Development (LID) strategies that are implemented on-site so that each redeveloped lot and the garden alleyway can capture and percolate surface water on-site, rather than designing the site to rely on the city’s water sources. Learn more about GWL's Union/Mechanic Garden.

For more information on any of our fresh food programs email Janel or call her at (978) 974-0770.