Grow Uptown Community Garden Funding Proposed In City Council

From the City Council's meeting last week:

"Four neighborhood open space projects would be made possible through financial measures proposed today to City Council by Mayor Rahm Emanuel:

Grow Uptown, 4525 N. Kenmore. Grow Uptown Garden would be developed on a vacant, City-owned lot through approximately $375,000 in Open Space Impact Fees.

The funds would be used by NeighborSpace land trust for the installation of raised garden beds, seating, a walking path, signage, trees, a shade structure, and bike racks. The .26-acre site, adjacent to Uptown’s former Graeme Stewart School, would be managed by the Peterson Garden Project in partnership with NeighborSpace.

Open Space Impact Fees are generated by new residential development projects to improve and expand public open spaces within the City’s 77 community areas."

The other three open space projects are the Veteran’s Peace Garden, 5413 W. Madison in Austin; 4546 N. Kedvale in Albany Park for a future park; and 1544 N. Larabee in Old Town to create a new access point to the athletic fields at Near North High School.

According to Peterson Garden Project, the Grow Uptown garden is a partnership between Alderman Cappleman, Morningside, Uptown United, Uplift High School, Heartland Health Center, and NeighborSpace, with produce donated to Inspiration Cafe as part of the "Grow to Give" program