What started as a sketch on a napkin and grew with the help of a committee's dedication was officially open for outdoor business Thursday.

Rochester leaders gathered under a cloudy afternoon sky to dedicate the new Rochester Community Garden.

The garden includes 42 separate plots for growing everything from pumpkins to marigolds.

City residents applied to lease spots in the garden, which is managed by the Dinosaur Hill Nature Preserve.

"This really is a great story for Rochester — it's one of the prides of our town," said Mayor Jeff Cuthbertson.

He applauded Dinosaur Hill Executive Director Sue Neal, Department of Public Works Director Bill Bohlen and City Councilmember Ben Giovanelli as being the "heart and soul" of the project.

"This sort of thing doesn't happen without a lot of sweat equity," Cuthbertson said.

Members of the City Beautiful Commission and staff at Dinosaur Hill joined the mayor in welcoming the garden.

A fence went up around the garden plots this week; a children's garden will be built nearby this summer.