BeavertonOregon.gov/Mayor
Special Announcement
About Kennedy Gardens
Last spring, we reminded you that the City of Beaverton does not own the property on which the Kennedy Gardens are located. In 1996, the City entered into an agreement with St. Matthew’s Lutheran Church to develop what we call the Kennedy Gardens. We know our gardeners and the City are grateful to the Church for letting us use this property at no cost for twelve garden seasons.
The property is valuable since it is one of the larger pieces of undeveloped property in the area. We have long understood the property owners could choose to use the property for something other than a community garden and express our gratitude on behalf of the hundreds of people who have gardened over the years.
The City has received formal notification that the congregation at St. Matthew’s will end the lease arrangement effective December 31, 2008, which means the upcoming garden season will be the final year at the Kennedy Garden location. They have indicated that the initial plans for the land are to “create an athletic field for St. Matthew’s children and youth as well as a possible site for community sport activities.”
The City values the Community Garden Program and is looking for locations to fill the gap created by the of loss this site. We hope to replace all or most of these plots at one or more new locations before the start of the garden season in 2009. The development of a new site has two primary challenges:
- Finding a suitable site
- It must be large enough to meet the need: the current site is approximately 45,000 square feet (with 85 plots measuring 400 square feet each and six raised beds, plus common spaces and pathways).
- We hope to have a location in the same general area of Beaverton. We recognize that many of our current gardeners might opt out of the program if a new location was in far south Beaverton, for example.
- Funding the development of the new site
- The Community Center garden (with 22 plots and 16 raised beds) was created in 2004 at a cost of more than $25,000.
- The major expected expenses of developing a new site include: soil testing (to be sure it is safe for gardening), irrigation, fencing, pathways, mulch/soil improvements, and staff time.
- We do not anticipate funding to “buy” land – so we will be looking at locations that are either currently owned by the City or community partners willing to lease property to the City at little or no cost.
What does this mean for you in this garden season?
- As you consider temporary fencing, soil upgrades and/or planting of perennial vegetation, please remember that this garden season is the last year at the Kennedy site.
- It is possible that a new garden location(s) to replace Kennedy may not be as large, which would lead to a garden plot/bed shortage. If the number of available plots is reduced, the City will lower the maximum number of plots per gardener at all garden locations to one, beginning in 2009. As a City service, it is important to provide the opportunity to garden to as many residents as possible. If you currently have multiple plots in any the Beaverton garden program, you should consider which plot(s) you would give up to other gardeners and plan your plot upgrades and perennial plantings accordingly.
- If you know of vacant property to consider as potential garden site, please notify City staff so we can explore the possibility.
- The Kennedy Garden location will close to gardening approximately September 30. The early closure will provide time to remove the underground irrigation system, the fence, the raised beds, and other clean-up as required by the lease agreement. Much of this type of work must be done in October, before the fall and winter rains soak the ground in November and December.
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