River Falls council approves 20-year lease for Grow to Share at DeSantis Park amid neighborhood pushback

The River Falls City Council approved a resolution on July 8 to grant Grow to Share a lease for community gardens at DeSantis Park, part of the meeting’s consent agenda.

Supporters told the council that Grow to Share has provided food, volunteer hours and education for more than a decade and that DeSantis Park is consistent with the organization’s agricultural and pastoral mission. "Please help Grow to Share to continue its valued work by voting in favor of the lease," former Grow to Share president Mike Woolsey told the council. Petra Johnson, speaking for the organization, summarized its mission and said the group anticipates expanding educational programming and adding a high tunnel or greenhouse.

Neighbors and other residents urged the council to reconsider or delay the move. Nancy Reich, who lives adjacent to the east entrance of DeSantis Park, asked why the gardens must move there and raised concerns about parking being outside her bedroom window, possible gravel, noise, dust and lighting. Gary Meyer and Matthew Yates also objected to a proposed parking area, greenhouse and increased infrastructure, saying the changes could harm neighborhood character and property values.

Council members approved the consent agenda motion that included the lease; the motion passed by voice vote. The consent motion combined two items: the Grow to Share lease and a separate resolution establishing a Safe Streets for All task force. The council did not take separate roll-call votes on the lease during the meeting.

Grow to Share representatives said the organization has worked with the city on site planning and expects the move will enable longer-term sustainability and more year-round programming. Petra Johnson noted the organization will need volunteers, donations and coordination with city staff to implement infrastructure such as a high tunnel or greenhouse; the organization’s statement in the meeting packet said the lease would provide 20 years of location stability.

The council did not detail design, parking or lighting specifications in the action taken; those operational questions were raised by several speakers during public comment. City staff or councilmembers did not provide a timeline or firm implementation steps for site improvements during the meeting. The transcript records residents’ requests that the council "please consider other options" and calls to "table" the lease for further review, but the consent vote approved the resolution as presented.

The council vote on the consent agenda was a voice vote with the mayor asking "All in favor? Aye. Opposed? K." The record does not show a separate motion or amendment that changed the lease language during the meeting.

The city will need to work with Grow to Share and neighborhood representatives to resolve operational questions raised by residents, including parking location and surfacing, lighting, and the extent of infrastructure such as spigots, greenhouses or equipment storage.