Seeds planted on Newmarket community garden concept

Newmarket Era
Feb. 27, 2014
By Chris Simon

A community garden could blossom in your neighbourhood.

Newmarket council will likely ask staff to seek your input on the expansion of the municipality’s community garden program, during a meeting Monday night. If approved as planned, staff could gauge public interest through The Era’s town page, the municipal website and social media.

Each small community garden would cost about $25,000 to set up. Water service, top soil, fencing, a bench, waste cans, composting area, tool shed, paved paths and signage would be needed at each site.

Between $5,000 to $8,000 in annual maintenance costs would be spent at each site, to properly grow and harvest fruits and vegetables, town development and infrastructure services commissioner Robert Prentice said.

“Information collected as a result of the public notification will allow staff to determine the areas with sufficient interest, as well as the most viable location within a ward,” he said, in a report to council.

A garden could be established in every ward, though that may not be feasible, Mr. Prentice said.

Councillor Maddie Di Muccio said residents would prefer additional skating rinks, playgrounds and parks over gardens.

“I have nothing against community gardens,” she said. “But I’m concerned with the way we’re going about this. Why can’t we put out a campaign drumming up support for ice rinks? I’ve never heard anybody come up to me and say they want a community garden. More people want other things.”

Others hope staff will make a serious push for public engagement on the issue.

“I’m a proponent of community gardens,” Regional Councillor John Taylor said. “We should be a little more aggressive in how we seek input. I’d hate for this to be missed.”

The town operates a community garden, in partnership with the York Region Food Network, at the Magna Centre, 800 Mulock Dr.

Staff will present its findings in time for the town’s 2015 budget deliberations.