Board schedules July 20 volunteer workday to revive Grace Place Community Garden

The Parks and Recreation Advisory Board voted to make its July 20 meeting a volunteer workday to help revive the Grace Place Community Garden, a food-pantry–supported garden that has fallen into disrepair after its organizer became seriously ill.

Alastair (board member) told the board the garden is “a completely free community garden” whose produce goes to a non–income-based food pantry and said the pantry has “almost tripled the amount of families that they’re serving this year” compared with prior years. He urged the board to use its volunteer program and community partnerships to make immediate repairs to beds and irrigation.

Jeffrey, Director of Community Services, offered to set up a follow-up meeting with Grace Place to formalize access and logistics: “If y’all want, I can reach out to Grace Place. We could set up something more formal and figure out what the next steps are.” The board agreed to recruit volunteers, solicit in-kind donations where appropriate, and use the July 20 date as an off-site meeting with a notice of possible quorum. The motion to convert the July 20 meeting to a volunteer opportunity carried by roll call.

Staff will follow up with Grace Place before the cleanup to confirm contacts, supplies and timing. Board members estimated an initial repair crew of roughly five to seven volunteers could make quick progress on irrigation reinforcement, tilling and bed repairs.