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Lawrence parks board outlines Rich Hart community garden, new playground and tree plan
Summary
Parks staff described a phased community garden at Rich Hart Park with raised, accessible beds and a July 19 backpack giveaway; board members discussed sponsorship and formal acceptance to support grant applications. The board also heard updates on a new playground and a tree-planting plan tied to IU support.
Jamie, a parks staff member, told the City of Lawrence Parks and Recreation Board that the department is moving forward with a phased community garden at Rich Hart Park and a backpack giveaway scheduled for July 19. “We will have a mix of beds there as well,” Jamie said, adding that two of the initial 10 gardens will be accessible and that the beds will be raised to avoid flooding.
The garden plan includes a walkway made with milling from recent work at Community Park, seating, picnic shelters and space for possible hydroponic classrooms for local school field trips. Jamie said staff are preparing diagrams and will seek formal board acceptance of the program so the city can pursue grant funding: “We will have a new diagram probably before the end of this week, if not early next week.”
Board members discussed how community access and sponsorship might work. Christy asked whether families could use plots and whether the city had considered fee-based rentals or corporate sponsorships. Eric, a parks staff member, said the city has tried similar fundraisers with the foundation and suggested nonprofit partners could help finance tree or plot dedications.
The board also heard that the new playground for 45th and Richard is scheduled for installation starting the following week, after nine months in storage; Eric said it should reopen by the end of July once concrete work finishes. On tree work, Eric described an IU-supported effort: an IU fellow, Taylor Stout, is preparing a tree inventory and master plan and the city expects roughly 30 trees from IU with a community planting planned for the fall.
The board did not take a formal vote on the garden program at this meeting; staff asked for a future agenda item to accept the program formally to support grant applications.
