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Park board votes to seek town help for community garden water bill, agrees to cover cost if council declines
Summary
After reviewing a high first-month water bill (about 60,000 gallons, $542) and the garden’s community food contributions, the Bristol Park Board voted to ask town council to split the 2025 cost and to add a recurring budget line; the board said it will cover 2025 costs if council declines.
The Bristol Park Board voted to ask the Town Council to split the community garden’s unusually large 2025 water bill and to add a recurring budget line for the garden going forward.
Garden coordinator and long-time volunteer described why the garden’s first-month water use was high — sandy soil and seedling irrigation needs — and said the garden supplied roughly 700 pounds of produce to a local pantry last year. The coordinator told the board the first-month consumption was about 60,000 gallons, producing a bill of about $542, and that monthly use should fall after initial establishment.
Board members debated who should pay the expense. Some members said they had understood the town had been covering the garden’s water historically; others noted the garden sits on town-owned land and that a dedicated line item would prevent future misunderstandings. Board discussion also considered alternatives such as relocating the garden or seeking private sponsorships.
After discussion the board moved to request that Town Council split the 2025 bill 50/50 with the parks department and to add $2,000 to the parks budget for the garden in 2026. The motion passed with three votes in favor and one abstention. The board then passed a separate, contingent motion that if Town Council declines the 50/50 split, the parks department will cover the 2025 bill; that motion carried on the same three‑yes, one‑abstention tally.
The board instructed staff and the garden coordinator to present usage statistics and a short impact summary to Town Council at its next meeting. The coordinator said she would include production numbers, distribution to the pantry and steps being taken to reduce ongoing irrigation needs (soil amendments and reduced run times).
Next steps: staff will place the item on the council agenda for the coming Thursday meeting; park staff will also budget $2,000 for the garden in the parks 2026 budget unless council agrees to share the 2025 cost.
