EDMONDS — In a city known for the hanging flower baskets that decorate downtown streets and as the home of the state’s oldest garden club, one thing has been missing — a community garden.
The city is talking with Snohomish County about opening a community garden, or P-Patch, in Esperance Park. The 9.6-acre county park at 7830 222nd SW is just outside the city limits.
An agreement between the city and county has been proposed calling for up to 30 4-foot by 20-foot garden plots in the park’s southeast corner.
If the plan moves ahead, three months of work to prepare the land for gardening would begin in January, in time for the public to begin gardening in the 2018 season.
The proposal has to be approved by both the Edmonds City Council and the Snohomish County Council.
“It would be wonderful,” said Janice Noe, second vice president of the local Floretum Garden Club. Noe is among the garden club members who have championed the idea of establishing a community garden.
It could be used by people who don’t currently have access to gardening space, experienced vegetable gardeners and as a way to introduce gardening to children, she said.
“All the learning that’s involved — getting engaged in the natural world, planting a seed and watching it germinate and develop and finally picking fruit from it is really educational for kids,” Noe said.
Carrie Hite, the city’s parks, recreation and cultural services director, said the city tried to find a spot for the garden inside city limits, but hasn’t found anything that would work.
If the city goes ahead with the project, the community garden would be to the right of the driveway in Esperance Park.
“We love the idea of doing a community garden out there,” said Tom Teigen, director of the county’s parks and recreation department.
The county invited Edmonds to participate in the park’s renovation plans, he said.
The idea of having a community garden at the park has been discussed for the past couple of years. Support from the city and the Floretum Garden Club has given momentum to the idea, he said.
“This really is a perfect place to do that,” Teigen said.
Sharon Salyer: 425-339-3486; salyer@heraldnet.com.
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