Introducing Salt Lake City’s Harrison Community Garden!

by slcgreen on September 13, 2022

Last month, we celebrated the opening of the Harrison Community Garden with Mayor Erin Mendenhall, Council Member Darin Mano, Wasatch Community Gardens, and the Salt Lake City Public Lands Department. Located along 700 East at Harrison Avenue, just south of Liberty Park, the newest addition to Salt Lake City’s family of community gardens provides plots for as many as 50 gardeners to grow vegetables.

This is the eighth active garden in Salt Lake City boundaries established under our Green City Growers program, which identifies vacant or under-utilized City property with access to a water line and other conditions that support a successful and sustainable community garden. The City partners with local non-profit Wasatch Community Gardens to manage and run the gardens on Salt Lake City property through this program.

Every community garden is a labor of love, but the Harrison Garden overcame multiple obstacles to ultimately receive funding from the City’s Capital Improvement Program (CIP) to make it a reality. (Pssst… community applications are due Sept. 30, 2022 for the next round of CIP funding).

Community gardens are more than just for the growers!

“Community gardens strengthen neighborhoods,” Mayor Erin Mendenhall explained in the press conference. “They increase access to fresh, nutritious food—often in underserved areas. And they also enhance the water, air and land in the immediate vicinity. This garden will continue to grow and flourish, thanks to the good work of its team of dedicated community members and our partners.”

Additionally, along the fence of the garden are planter boxes available for the public to grab food from, truly creating a space for everyone in the community.