Wheatland Community Garden set to open Wednesday
The ribbon cutting for Wheatland's Community Garden is scheduled at noon Wednesday at the site next to Park Place Park near McDevitt Drive and Spruce Avenue.
The Wheatland Community Garden opening Wednesday comes free of city funding and with its most important days ahead, says the city's community development director.
Tim Raney said volunteer work and donations helped make the garden next to Park Place Park possible and — like other such sites — its future hangs on the follow-up work after its opening.
"It's one thing to build it," he said.
But, Raney added, what most matters is "what happens after it gets open."
A lot of interest in construction and planting happens at many schools with gardens, he noted. "But when the weeds show up, everybody loses interest," Raney said.
The community garden with 12 separate plots will need a champion, the development director said.
"You've got to have somebody who is the cheerleader," he said. "It does take work."
The garden puts in place one of Wheatland's key "vision principles" to enhance quality of life while maintaining a connection to the city's agricultural roots, Raney explained.
Larry Panteloglow, public works director for Wheatland, said motion lights and security cameras have been installed at the site.
Raney, who has a sizable home garden, said experience provides some advice for what to plant at the Wheatland Community Garden.
Nobody should ever plant a gourd, he said, since its vines can grow to more than 30 feet and could reach another garden plot.
Another plant should be avoided, Raney added.
"You throw a mint down — you will never get rid of it," he said. "It's like ivy."
The garden is next to Park Place Park near the corner of McDevitt Drive and Spruce Avenue.
"It's ready for the ribbon cutting," City Manager Steve Wright said of the garden.
CONTACT Ryan McCarthy at rmccarthy@appealdemocrat.com or 749-4780. Find him on Facebook at /ADrmccarthy or on Twitter at @ADrmccarthy.
