Small Town News

King County recommends Issaquah location for community garden

---

More land in Issaquah and elsewhere could open up for community agriculture soon, after the King County Council approved a plan April 4 to allow community groups to manage and cultivate additional property for gardens.

The proposal calls for the county to join community-based organizations and other groups. The partners, in turn, can then take the lead to establish and sustain the garden sites. Gardeners do not own the land, but remain active in the maintenance and management of the garden.

The county's limited role involves coordinating use agreements and helping to connect interested parties to potential sites on county-owned properties.

The council called on County Executive Dow Constantine last year to develop a plan for creating and managing community gardens on county-owned property.

The motion also builds upon a plan outlined in 2008 to develop a countywide inventory of county-owned and managed properties feasible for community gardens. University of Washington urban planning students assisted in the initial inventory, and discovered 24 urban parcels for potential community gardens.

The sites include open space at 191st Avenue Southeast and Southeast 42nd Place near Lake Sammamish in Issaquah. County estimates indicate the land could provide up to 24,000 square feet for a community garden.

The existing gardens include community plots in the Mirrormont neighborhood near Issaquah.

"Community gardens are an enjoyable way to bring neighborhoods together," council Vice Chairwoman Jane Hague said in a release. "It's also an eco-friendly, cost-effective way to utilize excess county-owned land. I'm really looking forward to seeing future gardens appear on the Eastside."



Copyright 2011 The Issaquah Press, Issaquah, Washington. All Rights Reserved. This content, including derivations, may not be stored or distributed in any manner, disseminated, published, broadcast, rewritten or reproduced without express, written consent from SmallTownPapers, Inc.

© 2011 The Issaquah Press Issaquah, Washington. All Rights Reserved. This content, including derivations, may not be stored or distributed in any manner, disseminated, published, broadcast, rewritten or reproduced without express, written consent from DAS.

More from The Issaquah Press