Mitchell Park West Neighbors

yes the synopsis information was available and was discussed at the meeting. as was the drawing of the site plan, and some research on website, mostly U of A county extension. 

the vote was to pursue the comm garden as the grant application with the one stipulation to gauge the interest. if insufficient, (per what standard?) then the street trees were to be the grant application for the neighborhood. no one offerred to pursue the street tree grant. Steve M. mentioned the text of the application for the tree grant being in good shape. it is. but....it takes alot of organizing to reach ea neighbor to opt to get a tree, then have those select a tree species, plus understand where, (locations under APS/SRP lines pose their own limitations) then get 3 bids. after verifying the tree list is indeed still acceptable to the city. soooo.....unless someone offers to pursue the street tree grant, what options are there?

the community garden idea was developed by myself and Kirby Spitler and presented to the neighborhood at the association meeting. we did some field measurements so i could draw a preliminary site plan. And did a very brief site analysis for garden location. i did some prelim website research. the idea has been posted on the website for  a few weeks. after the association approved the idea, it was to go to a committee to develop the grant application. similar to the park bench grant process. the meeting at my house was primarily to assemble the committee. i chaired that meeting because i brought the idea to the association. a matter of convenience. and some attendees at that meeting were unfamiliar with the grant details at that point, let alone the grant process.

I'm acutely aware of the timelines for grant applications. if they are not met, and it is a very competitive selection process among other neighborhoods and hoa's in the city, it's another year and opportunity for the neighborhood lost.

you and jackie offered to be the co-chairs. I would assume that ea. committee member would be interested in offering their ideas to resolve the stipulation and move the process forward. so far, i've made some 'suggestions'. i think the 'standard' by which the garden interest is a problem area.

i think the co-chairs should be the cooridinators of all the suggestions from the committee and the residents. not the arbitrators. the committee should select the best option after open discussion at the next meeting.

hope this clarifies things a little. good luck.

I suggest that if you 'support a Community Garden' and it's up to you to define what you support, (active gardener, casual personal gardener, worker bee, in it for the local food source, etc) then add your name to the list below ina  reply!

-thx- Mark

The surveys that were passed out last week were collected, and we looked them over on Saturday at the Neighborhood Grant Community Garden Committee meeting. By a prelim count we have well over 30 interested gardeners between MPWNA and MPENA. This compares favorably with responses we've gotten from other community gardens to date. We are continueing to contact other gardens to 'support our case' and satisfy the condition placed by the neighborhood vote/Board to show sufficient support for the garden at Mitchell Park prior to preparing the grant application. and the Parks Dept request to show support from adjacent neighborhoods; MPENA, MANA, Gillilland NA. Teh Committee has contacted the Chairs of ea NA.

The Board meeting this week, see calendar, is open to the public, Jackie Jaap and myself will be making a very brief presentation of the results at that time. Board meetings are open to the public.

CU there!-Mark

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