By Jeanne Morrison
Neighbors in the northeast section of Grant Park are banding together to create a new community garden in the cul de sac at Bryan Street and Park Avenue. The Round Place, a local name, was formerly an I-20 on-ramp, but was sidelined when the highway was expanded back in the 1980s. Since then it has served only as a shady turnaround, a trap for unwary motorists, and a community cut through to convenience stores on Boulevard.
For years residents have discussed the cul de sac as a potential garden and community area, but didn’t know where to start. Now urban gardens are a thing, because of a new City of Atlanta initiative encouraging residents to grow their own food, and the neighbors are encouraged.
On Monday, June 20, a dozen neighbors met for a potluck dinner in the cul de sac and discussed their ideas for the space. They used sidewalk chalk to draw raised beds, chicken coops, a gazebo, a fountain, a basketball court. Neighbors who had never met each other found synergy and inspiration, talked about ways to involve their employers, and volunteered to clear and trim, build beds, and make drawings.
There are procedural hoops to jump through, but with help from City Council and the new Urban Agriculture initiative, there’ll be a new garden space coming soon. Interested neighbors should join the North Grant Park Community Garden group on www.Nextdoor.com, and attend a potluck social from 6:00pm to 8:00pm on Tuesday, July 19.
Comments are closed.