Rochester Hills Leaders Plan For City's First Community Garden

Rochester Hills residents will have an opportunity to grow fruits, vegetables, herbs and flowers in a community environment if a plan developed by city leaders is set in motion Monday night.

Mayor Bryan Barnett will outline his vision for the city's first Community Garden and ask Rochester Hills City Council for $30,000 to build the garden during a 7 p.m. City Council meeting.

Under Barnett's plan, the garden will be built at Wabash Park, located west of Rochester Road between Auburn and Hamlin roads.

"Community gardens are places where neighbors can gather to cultivate plants, vegetables and fruits," stated Barnett in a memo to councilmembers in advance of the Monday night meeting. "Such gardens can improve nutrition, physical activity, community engagement, safety and economic vitality for a neighborhood and its residents."

The city of Rochester built a community garden two years ago; read about that garden here. 

Like the Rochester Community Garden, Rochester Hills' garden would be managed by Dinosaur Hill Nature Preserve in the city of Rochester, under Barnett's plan.

The Rochester Hills Community Garden would have 108 4-foot-by-4-foot raised beds. It would be surrounded by a fence to keep deer away; there would be a water station in the center of the garden.

If City Council approves the request, the garden would be built in time for the growing season this spring.

The community garden is the last item on the Monday night agenda; city council will also appoint a new city clerk and hear a presentation about the Clinton River Trail, among other items. See the full agenda here.