Brought to you by WBIW News and Network Indiana
Last updated on Friday, August 4, 2017
(BEDFORD) - The Bedford Community Garden has three weeks left to reach its goal of $25,000 in order to receive a match grant of $25,000 from the Indiana Housing and Community Development Authority (IHCDA).
"It has exceeded my expectations, you know, pleasantly so. Because before this we just had a garden on the south end of town and no one else besides the parks department was involved besides the individuals that had plots so this project has exceeded it [expectations] because of the community buy in," said Barry Jeskewich, Director of the Parks Department of Bedford.
Currently the Bedford Community Garden has raised $11,905--that's just about 48 percent to goal with only three weeks left to fundraise.
The end product of the work done by the Bedford Parks & Recreation Department and the coalition Live Well Lawrence will be to create at public space that promotes spending time outdoors, being physically active, and growing fresh produce to share with their families and neighbors.
The Bedford Community Garden will have garden plots, a playground, a quarter mile walking path, restrooms, a handicap accessible playground and other elements.
Jeskewich said, "I would expect the fall is our anticipated project dates for constructing the bathrooms, getting the pavilion constructed, installing some playground equipment...it may roll into 2018."
"If anybody has ideas for some element that's not part of the design that they'd like to incorporate, like a church recently talked to Barry about putting in some bird houses. And they have gone ahead and done that. And it's awesome and it was totally their idea," said Rachel Beyer, Lawrence County NEP Community Wellness Coordinator from Purdue Extension.
If the Bedford Community Garden can raise enough funds, Jeskewich said he anticipates having a ribbon cutting and grand opening for the entire project sometime in the spring of 2018.
"It's a roll out progress," said Jeskewich
"Its not all at once, its pieces at a time," Beyer added.
To help the Bedford Community Garden reach its goal, go to the link below to donate:
https://www.patronicity.com/project/bedford_community_garden#/
1340 AM WBIW welcomes comments and suggestions by calling 812.277.1340 during normal business hours or by email at comments@wbiw.com
© Ad-Venture Media, Inc. All Rights Reserved.