Community gardens sprout at new parks

Two new community gardens will bloom this summer in parks opening in Sebastopol and Santa Rosa.

Construction workers are building a $1.53 million combined skate park and garden in Sebastopol east of downtown and Analy High School.

And a community conservation group is overseeing gardens this spring on a farm that has been purchased for $5.25 million for park land in Santa Rosa's Roseland neighborhood.

"I love the idea of a combination park," said Sebastopol Mayor Craig Litwin. He said his town may be building the "first combined community garden and skate park in the nation."

Similarly, Roseland has the chance to combine the elements of a city park and a community garden on the former Bayer family farm, which once was home to cows, sheep, chickens and a prune orchard. The land lies along West Avenue near Sheppard Elementary School.

The result could be "a park for the public to enjoy that's based on the foundation of an old farm," said Craig Anderson, executive director of LandPaths, a land stewardship group based in Santa Rosa.

Garden supporters say the public benefits by growing fresh, healthy food at low cost and by strengthening communities as neighbors garden together.

"It really helps to bring neighborhoods together," said Grayson James, executive director of Petaluma Bounty. The group is about to open its fourth community garden in two years. It will be that city's sixth such garden.

The Sebastopol and Santa Rosa projects were awarded grants by the Sonoma County Agricultural Preservation and Open Space District. The county Board of Supervisors still must approve the grants.

The community gardens will be the first supported by the Open Space District, which is better known for protecting large tracts of agricultural land from development. But the district also has provided funds to help create such urban spaces as the Windsor Town Green and Santa Rosa's Prince Memorial Greenway along Santa Rosa Creek.

Last summer, the district awarded nearly $530,000 for the Sebastopol project and $1.3 million for the Roseland park. In all, the district awarded $10 million to projects in and near cities around the county, said spokeswoman Maureen Middlebrook.

Sebastopol has had community gardens before but this will be the first operated by the city. Interested gardeners will be able to sign up with City Hall to plant and tend one of 14 raised beds, said city Planning Director Kenyon Webster.

A skate park has been sought in Sebastopol for more than 15 years. The park is scheduled for completion by June 30.

Santa Rosa's parks department already operates two community gardens, one downtown near Catholic Charities Family Support Center and another near Kawana Elementary School south of the county fairgrounds.

Roseland and Sheppard elementary School students last week helped plant a winter garden on the park land.

Anderson hopes this spring to plant gardens that will produce the ingredients for salsa and Southeast Asian dishes. Other plans call for a wheelchair-accessible garden and for growing corn, squash and a "significant" pumpkin patch.

City officials this year want Roseland residents to help plan the design and uses at the 5.5-acre park. In the interim, LandPaths leaders want to provide ways for the public to enjoy the park land. A harvest party last fall brought out 200 residents, many who support the gardens as well as preserving the historic barn, chicken coop and outbuildings.

"It's an idea that's caught on in the community," said Assistant City Manager Marc Richardson.

You can reach Staff Writer Robert Digitale at 521-5285 or robert.digitale@pressdemo

crat.com.