Richmond Park Becomes Latest Addition to Salt Lake’s Community Gardens
Salt Lake City is proud to support Wasatch Community Gardens’ work to grow the City’s robust collection of community gardens. Last month, Salt Lake City and Wasatch Community Gardens (WCG) celebrated the opening of the newest addition: the Richmond Park Community Garden.
Green City Growers
Over the years, Salt Lake City has partnered with WCG through the Green City Growers program to help coordinate the use of city-owned or managed land for community garden plots. The plots are managed by WCG and help Salt Lake City residents build a more robust and sustainable food system.
Community gardens provide unique spaces for our neighbors to forge connections and to grow healthy and sustainable food. The Richmond Park Community Garden is the sixth space that WCG and SLC have created collaboratively. WCG received $50,000 through the City’s Capital Improvement Program (CIP), and the Public Lands Department supported the construction of planting boxes, fencing, and seating areas. After COVID-19 precautions slowed the full opening of the garden in 2020, Salt Lake City is thrilled that the new garden is now up and running.
Richmond Park: A Tribute to Food Access & Advocacy
Richmond Park was named in honor of human rights activist Mignon Barker Richmond the first African American woman to graduate from a college in Utah. Among her many accomplishments, Richmond served as the YWCA Food Services Director in Salt Lake City, and her community work helped organize school lunch programs as well as improve access to food and education for children in Salt Lake.
SLCgreen is thrilled that Richmond’s legacy can live on with the new community garden, where 23 gardeners have already reserved their plots for the second full season. WCG’s 16 community gardens produce over 26 tons of food each year, providing critical access to fresh, locally grown food.
Get Involved
Support your local food system by applying for a plot in one of WCG’s gardens. WCG also has opportunities for volunteers as well as many resources for community members who are ready to start their own gardens at home.
If you already have a successful garden and would like to share your produce, Waste Less Solutions has partnered with the GardenShare program to connect fresh locally grown food to those in need. Simply connect with Waste Less Solution’s food rescue team and donate your extra produce.
