The City has provided an area for community gardeners to come together and create special spaces to enjoy the popular hobby of gardening. The Community Gardens opened in 1994 have have been growing strong ever since then! The gardens consist of 24 individual plots and one herb garden for all the gardeners.
The City’s Parks and Recreation Department is responsible for managing the garden as city-owned property and issues annual use agreements to the individual users of the gardens. The gardeners themselves are responsible for their individual plots, the plantings, and maintenance of individual plots. Among the community gardeners, there are different levels of knowledge of expertise: from novice, beginning gardeners to the advanced Master Gardeners (a designation that is achieved thru the University of Nevada, Reno’s extension program offered each fall). In the spirit of community, the gardeners with more experience often mentor and hand down that knowledge to the novices.
The gardens also offer educational value with community outreach events that are held there. There is also a Boulder City Children’s outreach plot to help children learn about gardening. This plot also has a fun worm garden to help kids learn about the cooperation between plants and animals that helps plants grow and thrive.
Plots are available to Boulder City residents on an annual basis. Some gardeners have had their plots for years, while others are new to the gardens. There is a waiting list, maintained by the Parks and Recreation Department, for those seeking to become community gardeners. The annual fee for a plot is just $25.
The Community Gardens is a wonderful spot to walk through and observe nature at work. In the words of Julie Calloway, Parks and Recreation Manager, “Visitors can see the true fruits and flowers, of our gardeners’ labor. We want folks to come out and enjoy the gardens, but we do ask that visitors do not pick any of the fruits or flowers within the garden plots.” The Community Gardens are adjacent to the Old Water Filtration Plant, and are located at 300 Railroad Avenue.
The gardens offer a serene spot for users to try their hand at growing something beautiful or yummy, while giving visitors a chance to see the results of the hard work of those gardeners. It’s a culmination of community spirit and pride with tangible results that reach beyond the garden’s footprint.
For more information about the Community Gardens or to place your name on the waiting list for a plot, contact the Parks and Recreation Department at (702) 293-9256.
