Community Gardeners Finish New Site Buildout

The McKinley Park Community Garden, located on parkland between northbound and southbound Damen Avenue at South 38th Street, is ready for a season of growing with the completed installation of garden beds and water tanks. Volunteers labored over two Saturdays on April 21 and April 28 to construct the garden, now at its permanent home after losing its previous spot on private land along Pershing Road.

"It's been a long road to get to this place," said garden core team member Kara Breems. "We are so excited to have our beds in the ground, full of soil and ready to plant!"

All 24 garden plots filled up with advance reservations within days of becoming available earlier this spring. On April 21, the group installed the cedar beds that McKinley Park Community Garden President Nicholas Efrosinis built in his garage. On April 28, volunteers mulched the paths between the beds and filled the beds with specially blended organic soil.

"With over 30 people helping, we made quick work of the 36 cubic yards of soil and 15 cubic yards of mulch, getting all the work done before noon," Breems said.

Multiple sources of support helped the community garden get set up in its new, permanent home. Breems noted fundraising events, the $50 annual fee for each garden plot and soil, mulch and equipment donations from the Chicago Park District as important sources of material support for the garden.

"We estimate that each bed costs $200 to make and fill, using all volunteer labor," she said, "so we definitely needed to raise funds outside of the member fee." Breems also said that support from 12th Ward Alderman George Cardenas and within the park district was essential for securing the new site.

A cadre of Thomas Kelly High School students led by teacher and McKinley Park resident Keith Van Rhein were also very helpful in getting the new site built, Breems said.

Plans for future garden activities include recurring work days on the second Saturday of the month and open-to-the-public workshops and events. Breems noted that the park district will conduct annual garden soil testing given the garden's proximity to the Central Manufacturing District and its businesses such as the new MAT Asphalt plant.

The all-volunteer core team of the McKinley Park Community Garden are Nicholas Efrosinis, Lucy Stanfield, Joy Duncan, Tony Adams, Kara Breems, Corenna Roozeboom and Heather Breems.

"I hope the garden will be a source of delight for everyone who walks by it, not just the 24 gardeners," Breems said.

The below gallery displays photos of both April 21 and April 28 McKinley Park Community Garden build days. Photos provided courtesy of the McKinley Park Community Garden.