Politics & Government

City Endorses Community Garden

City officials said they think a community garden will benefit Temple Terrace.

Temple Terrace City Council members gave a green light to green thumbs during Tuesday night's meeting.

Council members endorsed the idea of adding a second community garden and told members of the Temple Terrace Community Garden organization they would work with them as the plan progresses.

“We think it’s an outstanding idea,” said Kim Leinbach, who met with director James Chambers and the garden group’s and a few weeks ago.

Find out what's happening in Temple Terracewith free, real-time updates from Patch.

The garden group has been  to create a place where the community can come together to plant and grow fruits, vegetables, herbs and Florida heritage plants. Group members  on Temple Terrace Patch. Now, they have a  at  and plans to build another  at  near the tennis courts. The second location is scheduled to open in the fall of 2012.

Group members talked to the City Council Tuesday about their future plans, planting and harvesting, water and composting, education, fundraising and membership.

Find out what's happening in Temple Terracewith free, real-time updates from Patch.

“I think it’s a great idea,” said Temple Terrace Mayor Joe Affronti after the presentation. He added that he remembered the popularity of victory gardens in which people could have their own plots when he was a kid during World War II.

Councilman Ron Govin said his only concern is that plans for the second garden show that plots would cut into the area at Riverhills Park where people who attend events, such as the , would park.

“I love the idea, but we use that parking so much,” he said. “We just need to make sure that it’s available to handle the occasions.”

Leinbach and Chambers said the garden would only eliminate a few parking spaces, which the city thinks wouldn’t greatly impact the parking area at this point.

“I just want to say I think that this is a great endeavor,” said Councilwoman Alison Fernandez. “It’s just another piece of the community fabric that ties in with another reason to live here.”

Community Garden members have scheduled their next work day in the garden at Riverhills Elementary from noon to 2 p.m. Anyone is invited to become part of the group. Application forms are available on the Temple Terrace Community Garden website.


Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.

We’ve removed the ability to reply as we work to make improvements. Learn more here

More from Temple Terrace