REPORT TO PARKS & RECREATION COMMISSION
SUBJECT
Title
Recommend Eligibility Criteria for the Community Garden Program at the Mini Park Located at 3450 Copper Place
Report
BACKGROUND
One of the City Council Pillars since 2014 has been "to enhance community sports, recreation and arts assets. In 2018, the City dedicated its first community garden at the Everett N. "Eddie" Souza Park & Community Garden. The review of new parks and programs is within the purview of the Parks & Recreation Commission. The Parks & Recreation Commission recommended priorities for the Souza Community Garden program that included criteria for eligibility, and rules for access and use. The Everett N. "Eddie" Souza Community Garden eligibility prioritized City of Santa Clara residents (residency), persons living within 1/2 mile of the garden (geographic proximity), persons with low income or on public assistance (income), and youth & seniors (age).
On October 17, 2017, the Commission reviewed and recommended City Council approval of the schematic design for the SummerHill-Lawrence Station Area Public Parkland (Attachment 1). The parkland consists of eight (8) mini parks including the community garden in Mini Park G, located at 3450 Copper Place (Attachment 2). In 2019, the Department began an interest list for the new community garden that was featured in the Activity Guide and on the Department's program registration system. The community garden is projected to open in fall 2021.
The community garden has 26 raised garden beds, container garden display beds, picnic benches, a shared storage shed, compost area, five specimen fruit trees, and community blueberry bushes. Funds generated by the Community Facilities District 2019-1 (Lawrence Station) (CFD) for the Lawrence Station Area Public Parkland will contribute to the maintenance costs of parks, and eligible costs of community garden maintenance.
DISCUSSION
Given that the public garden is within a CFD, and there is a finite num...
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