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Merrillville council approves Rosenbaum Community Garden pilot, with hold-harmless and food-donation plans
Summary
Council approved creation of the Rosenbaum Community Garden on town property; organizers will use individual plots, sign hold-harmless waivers and coordinate surplus donations with the Northwest Indiana Food Bank.
MERRILLVILLE, Ind. — The Merrillville Town Council on April 8 approved a motion to create the Rosenbaum Community Garden pilot project on town property in the Fourth Ward, including a hold-harmless participation clause and an initial plan to channel surplus produce to the Northwest Indiana Food Bank.
Councilman (name listed as) Fettig moved the proposal during the Parks and Recreation committee report; Councilor (second and supporting council members) seconded and the motion carried unanimously. The council asked town attorneys to review a draft participant waiver and hold-harmless clause before garden plots are assigned.
Brian (no last name provided), a community volunteer and garden organizer, told the council the plan calls for individual plots, a sign-up sheet, and bylaws that will include a hold-harmless, participate-at-your-own-risk clause. “We have a sign-up sheet for residents that’ll have our bylaws… at the end is a hold harmless, participate at your own risk clause,” Brian said. He said the project will encourage gardeners to donate surplus produce and noted the Northwest Indiana Food Bank could accept those donations subject to their stipulations.
Parks staff said the garden would be treated as a pilot project with space for individual plots and the potential to expand if successful. Council and staff discussed basic liability protections; town attorney Michael Griffin and town counsel will review language to ensure volunteers and the town are appropriately protected. The parks committee indicated it will coordinate with the town to place the garden on town property and ensure insurance and liability questions are resolved.
The council also discussed water access: committee members said they’d look to coordinate a well and solar pump for irrigation and to support a possible nearby orchard project. The motion passed without recorded opposition.
Implementation steps recorded in the meeting include drafting the garden bylaws, finalizing a hold-harmless agreement with town counsel, and coordinating donation logistics with the Northwest Indiana Food Bank.
Organizers said they hope the garden will provide fresh produce for participants, community engagement opportunities and additional donations to local hunger-relief efforts.
