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Millcreek Journal

Community gardens receive a makeover worth $3,000

Mar 29, 2022 10:03PM ● By Bridget Raymundo

By Bridget Raymundo | [email protected]

Under the financial matters discussed at the March 14 Millcreek City Council meeting, was an appropriation for up to $3,000 to the International Rescue Committee. Following the public hearing was the approval of the government grant to improve community gardens which serve primarily refugee communities.

“Community gardens are something that Millcreek residents have expressed interest in and this is certainly a worthy cause to pay our refugee community,” said Mayor Jeff Silvestrini.

The International Rescue Committee is an organization which assists refugees, asylees, victims of human trafficking, survivors of torture, and other immigrants from around the world.

The IRC sent a request to Promise Utah to improve the community gardens at Canyon Rim Park and Sunnyvale Park, both in Millcreek. The request is to set up a gardening shed where there is none right now. For the garden in the Canyon Rim neighborhood, $1,000 will help improve garden beds. With the change made, the garden will become more productive and in less disarray.

The money for Canyon Rim is split with $2,000 coming from community service projects on the Promise budget, and $1,000 from prior fund designation. Already, this grant is affordable for the city budget.

As is standard for city grants, a study from Bonneville Research produced a report Feb. 24, that concludes the grant is worthy of endeavor.

One concern expressed was the safety of investments made to the gardens. In particular, would the sheds get broken into? The actual problem was the inventory of supplies because gardening instruments were often left outside and then lost. The shed would help to organize said supplies and provide security to those investments.

“They anticipate a lot less loss of supplies which has been more of a problem than theft…by actually having a shed that will lock…and help with that,” said another council meeting attendee.

Sunnyvale Park has an established past of growing and selling organic produce making “great use” of their resources according to Silvestrini. The garden is well tended for its benefit to residents and is done so without waste.