Garden Plots at City’s Three Community Gardens Available for Rent Beginning Feb. 19

(BLOOMINGTON) – Registration opens Feb. 19 for the rental of community gardening plots in the city’s three community gardens.

Garden plots are available for rent in Willie Streeter Community Gardens, located in Winslow Woods Park, 2120 S. Highland Ave.; Rev. Butler Park Community Gardens, 812 W. 9th St.; and in the new Switchyard Park Community Gardens, 1601 S. Rogers St.

Garden plots must be rented in person at the Bloomington Parks and Recreation office in City Hall, 401 N. Morton St. Suite 250, between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. Garden plots are available on a first-come, first-served basis. Registration will remain open until all garden plots are rented. All three community gardens have plenty of parking available, and all are accessible via Bloomington Transit bus routes.

Services provided in the gardens include the initial preparation of the garden area, water sources, maintained paths, composting facilities, fencing, the advice of the garden staff, and other resources for gardeners. Communal tools are available for use at scheduled times during the week. Wheelchair-accessible raised garden beds are also available (all garden plots at Switchyard Park are raised beds). 

To ensure gardening opportunities are available to all members of the Bloomington community, financial assistance is available for those in need to help cover garden plot rental fees. For more information or to receive an application, contact Bloomington Parks and Recreation at 812-349-3700.

Garden Plot Rental Fees

Willie Streeter Community Gardens, 2120 S. Highland Ave.

  • Small Organic Plot (100 ft2)—$37 Bloomington residents/$44 non-city residents
  • Large Organic Plot (200 ft2)—$73 Bloomington residents/$85 non-city residents
  • Large Conventional Plot (200 ft2)—$73 Bloomington residents/$85 non-city residents
  • Organic Raised Beds (32 ft2)—$37 Bloomington residents/$44 non-city residents

Butler Park Community Gardens, 812 W. Ninth St.

  • Small Organic Plot (95 ft2)—$37 Bloomington residents/$44 non-city residents
  • Large Organic Plot (140 ft2)—$51 Bloomington residents/$59 non-city residents
  • Organic Raised Bed (32 ft2)—$37 Bloomington residents/$44 non-city residents

Switchyard Park Community Gardens, 1601 S. Rogers St.

  • Organic Raised Bed (32 ft2)—$37 Bloomington residents/$44 non-city residents

All registration materials needed to rent a garden plot can be downloaded from the Bloomington Parks and Recreation Department website at bloomington.in.gov/parks/community-gardening, or obtained from the Bloomington Parks and Recreation office. 

For more information about renting a garden plot, or about the Community Gardening program, contact Sarah Mullin, Program Specialist, at 812-349-3704 or communitygardens@bloomington.in.gov.