POSTED JULY 5, 2017
(Portland, OR) –
Kingsley Community Garden becomes Portland’s 52nd Site for Growing Healthy, Local, Fresh Food
Portland Parks & Recreation (PP&R), in partnership with the Linnton Neighborhood Association, announce the opening of the newest Portland Community Garden at Kingsley Park, in the Linnton area of Northwest Portland. Support for the Kingsley Park Community Garden, the 52nd site in Portland’s Community Garden system, comes from the Bureau of Environmental Services’ Community Watershed Stewardship Program, West Multnomah Soil & Water Conservation District, and Hands on Portland.
The Kingsley Community Garden (pictured) on St. Helens Road (Hwy 30), northwest of Germantown Road, opened on June 3, 2017. The site provides a flat, sunny, nearby space for residents, many of whom live on Linnton’s very shady slopes which don’t get sufficient sun for growing produce.
“Kingsley is a wonderful place for neighbors to grow and enjoy fresh produce,” says Portland Parks Commissioner Amanda Fritz. “Community Gardens are places for people to grow food, where they cultivate community. I’m happy that PP&R has another community garden to enrich Portlanders’ quality of life.”
The Kingsley garden has a range of plot sizes suitable for growing produce ranging from a small number of tomato plants to a large pumpkin patch.
“It is a real pleasure to see the robust growth of - and the ever-increasing enthusiasm for - Portland Community Gardens,” says Portland Parks & Recreation Director Mike Abbaté. “Our multi-lingual Gardens staff do a great job in fostering the sense of togetherness that is part of each unique garden, and of engaging people to feel welcome at their neighborhood site. I encourage all Portlanders to sign up for a plot, and to volunteer!”
Kingsley Community Garden also features a 2,000 square-foot habitat garden planted with native plants, which provide shelter and food for all kinds of beneficial insects, birds, and salamanders. The native plants will also boost watershed health by absorbing rainwater during the wet season.
The native plantings at Kingsley Park are part of a larger network of native planting projects in Linnton in the past few years. These plantings help connect wildlife corridors between Forest Park, the Willamette River, and Sauvie Island.
Kingsley Community Garden plots are still available. To sign up for a garden plot, complete a Garden Plot Request Form at portlandoregon.gov/parks/52116 or call the Portland Community Gardens office at 503-823-1612 for assistance.
The Portland Community Gardens program has provided gardening opportunities for the physical and social benefit of the people and neighborhoods of Portland since 1975. With the addition of Kingsley, Portland Parks & Recreation now manages 52 community gardens located throughout the city. Portland Community Gardens are developed and operated by volunteers and PP&R staff, offering a variety of activities.
For more information about Portland Parks & Recreation’s Community Gardens Program, visit portlandoregon.gov/parks/community gardens.
To learn more about this or other gardens, please contact Portland Community Gardens Coordinator Laura Niemi at 503-823-1612 or laura.niemi@portlandoregon.gov.
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