Community Gardens
Community Gardens Information
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 gardens, GWL and the City most recently completed 3 additional gardens: Spruce/Myrtle Street, Cross/Cedar Street, and Giuffrida. We are always aiming to expand the Neighborhood Community Gardens Initiative to ensure safe, gardening locations for Lawrence residents. These three gardens are already full, so let us know where you'd like to see new garden/if you are interested in learning more by emailing Maria or calling her at (978) 974-0770 x7006.
Newest Gardens
Spruce & Myrtle Street Garden
The Spruce & Myrtle Street community garden was opened in July 2011 with a ribbon cutting ceremony, as shown in the photo. At the ceremony, Mayor Lantigua noted, "If you came by this site last year you would have seen a lot with illegal dumping and littered with debris. Now we have given the land back to the community for a positive use.” The garden filled up very fast and is already producing fresh produce for the local gardeners!
Cross & Cedar Street Garden
This garden, located at the intersection of Cross Street and Cedar Street, opened in July 2011 and is also full at this time. It was established to provide Lawrencians with another healthy space to grow fresh fruits and vegetables.The site has been a residential space since 1888, but the buildings were demolished in recent years, leaving a vacant lot. With help from the City of Lawrence, GWL transformed the lot into a functional garden!
Giuffrida Place Garden
The Giuffrida Place Garden is the last of the three gardens that were established in July 2011. The site historically had three triple-decker residences which were destroyed by fire in the 1990s, and once vacant, became overgrown and filled with a significant amount of illegally dumped material. Local residents quickly jumped on board after hearing about the garden, so the Giuffrida Garden is also full.
Other Gardens
Cronin Park Garden
In July of 2010, Cronin Park, had its official ribbon cutting. There are currently 9 raised garden beds (18 gardening spaces) at this location! At the time of its opening, local students helped plant veggies in two of the new garden beds that the Tarbox School then used for schoolyard gardening education that fall!
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 Maria or call her at (978) 974-0770 x7006.