Community Garden Project Connects Neighbors and Students
May 28th, 2010
On Saturday May 22nd residents from the 2900 block of 24th street joined the 24th street block watch group, the Dominican Center and students from Milwaukee School of Engineering (MSOE) to construct six raised bed gardens. The project was a successful community collaborative between residents, block watches, the Dominican Center, Urban Ecology Center in Washington Park, MSOE and Safe & Sound Community Partners.
The project began in early February at a block watch meeting at the Dominican Center. Members of the 2900 block of 24th street block watch brainstormed ideas to engage new residents who moved to the block in the last year. The idea of a community garden immediately took root with the members of the block watch and the Dominican Center staff. The group was excited about the project but never having constructed a community garden before needed some technical assistance.
Talibah Mateen and Tim Schermetzler of the Safe & Sound Community Partner Program connected the block watch with a MSOE’s Servant Leadership Program chaired by Dr. David Howell and a class taught by Dr. Michael Carriere on Sustainable City Development. Students from Dr. Carriere’s class volunteered to design, source inexpensive materials and assist in construction of the raised beds. The MSOE students have experience in community projects similar to the garden; the students built a bike ramp at the Urban Ecology Center in Riverside Park and worked abroad in South America designing and building bridges in the Engineers with-out boarders program. MSOE students Heather Christensen and Russell Richard attended a block watch meeting along with Dr. Carriere in March to gain some inspiration for the designs of the garden.
Nick Toman, an attorney with Legal Aid who works part time for the Dominican Center, worked with the city to allow the garden to be constructed on a small lot where a house was recently razed. The lot is too small for new construction but is perfectly situated in the middle of the 2900 block allowing easy access for all residents. The staff at the Dominican Center assisted in securing additional funds for the garden supplies and hosted planning meetings at the center.
On Saturday when the ground was broken residents, block watchers, the Dominican Center, MSOE and Safe & Sound Community Partners and Community Prosecution Unit Coordinator Kati Tillema were all present to lend a hand. Sergeant Williams of Milwaukee Police District 5 helped transport wheel barrels, shovels, rakes and other tools from the Urban Ecology Center (UEC) in Washington Park. The UEC allows community groups to use their garden tools free of charge assisting a number of garden projects throughout Milwaukee. Members of the 2900 block watch and the Dominican Center will continue to work on the garden in the coming weeks and encourage new residents on the block to volunteer for the garden and block watch helping keep their block healthy, safe and clean.
LINK: JSOnline article by Michael Carriere, inspired by the class project
Community engagement is key to making Milwaukee sustainable
