After the resounding success of its first community garden last year, the
University Cultural Center Association (UCCA) has acquired a second lot, this one located at the southeast corner of John R and E. Palmer, to create the Art Center Community Garden. "The North Cass Garden was widely received -- people were shocked about what can happen when you come together as a community with an organization like UCCA," says fundraising manager Annmarie Borucki. "So the reason we decided to do a new garden was that we could not provide enough space (with the first), we had a huge waiting list."
Funders include The McGregor Fund, Americana Foundation and First American Title Company, with further sources being pursued. "These funders are not necessarily funding it because it's a garden, but they see it as a community builder," Borucki says.
The site selected is in a densely residential area and on the other side of Woodward from the first garden. It is about .6 acres and will include 96 raised beds, some of which will be ADA-accessible. The garden also will have an orchard. It will be similar in style to North Cass, which was also designed by
JJR.
Barthel Contracting will begin construction this month, there will be volunteer build-out days in May and plots will be planted by Memorial Day. With all permits in hand, UCCA is ready to begin promoting the garden and accepting bed applications. Contact Borucki at 313-577-5088 to begin the process.
Source: Annmarie Borucki, UCCA
Writer: Kelli B. Kavanaugh
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