After a year of collaboration with City of Arlington employees, the Fish Creek Community unveiled a new community garden last weekend at Beautiful Savior Lutheran Church. The garden was a joint project between the Fish Creek Neighborhood, Beautiful Savior Lutheran Church, the Arlington Tomorrow Foundation and the City of Arlington. The Arlington Tomorrow Foundation provided a $10,000 grant to help get the project started.
More than 100 residents and community members turned out for the official opening and ribbon cutting ceremony, including local firefighters and police officers, Girls Scouts, Boy Scouts, the James Bowie High Jazz Band, Master Gardeners and Master Composters, Lowes, Home Depot Kids Korner, H.O.P.E. Tutoring, City of Arlington's Parks and Recreation department employees, UT-Arlington student interns from the Urban Design Center and Council Member Robert Rivera.
"This was a beautiful example of what people working together can accomplish,' said Jayne Cummins, Chair of the Fish Creek Community Garden. "This is the community's garden, and over time, bit by bit, we will see the completion of a very large, seemingly impossible, but well thought-out Neighborhood Plan that will be a source of joy, education and blessing for years to come.'
The Fish Creek Neighborhood Plan was adopted in December 2010. Since then, members have implemented many of the strategies identified in the Plan, such as creating their own logo and identity, a website for mass communication, building a beautiful and safe pedestrian bridge, and now the community garden. There is a growing sense of community here, encompassing four residential subdivisions, two schools, a church, a neighborhood park and some community retail and restaurants.
"It takes a lot of time and commitment from neighborhood leaders to make such wonderful things happen,' said a proud Gincy Thoppil, City of Arlington Planning Manager. Thoppil worked closely with the Fish Creek Community to develop their Neighborhood Plan. "This neighborhood is up to something BIG and can be a model for other neighborhoods to follow.'
The Fish Creek Community Garden currently has 20 raised beds of fruits and vegetables, herbs, and native Texas plants. It will eventually have about 120 raised beds of vegetation, including 12 handicap-accessible beds. In the center, there will also be a large gazebo which will be used for educational purposes and community gatherings. A few of the beds future produce have already been designated for the Tarrant Area Food Bank.
"I think for the community and for the church, it's a place that people will be able to gather and feel safe,' said Pastor Brian Cummins of Beautiful Savior Lutheran Church. "They can garden here and grow food to feed their families, or donate to others in need. We hope this project will bring people together in fellowship and service to the community.'
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