Local leaders and community members celebrated the grand opening of the community garden on June 22.
About the project
The project was spearheaded by council member Lauralee Harris and Stacy Anderson, who is the outdoor nature education and trails supervisor and staff liaison for the community gardens committee.
The Post Oak Community Garden received a total of $37,000 in grant funding from The Burdine-Johnson Foundation and the Austin Community Foundation and the city budgeted $250,000 for community gardens in the Fiscal Year 2023-24 budget, Harris said.
What residents should know
The Post Oak Community Garden has 35 garden plots and includes a handful of Americans with Disabilities Act compliant resources including ADA-accessible garden tables and plots. The community garden is equipped with a greenhouse, tool shed, pergola, picnic tables and benches. The community garden also has compost, mulch and soil bins and an ADA restroom.
To participate in the community garden, individuals must be a Kyle resident and submit an application. The city's parks and recreation department is currently taking names for the plot application waitlist.
Residents can email Anderson at [email protected] and include their name, address, phone number and preferred plot size which are as follows:
- 4x8 ADA garden tables
- 4x8x1 garden plots
- 8x12x1 garden plots
Harris noted that residents interested in a plot will be able to sign up for a year, and there will be a small fee associated with each plot size. The community gardens committee is working to determine that cost.
"People who simply don't have the funds even for the low cost that we're asking—we'll have a system where we can have a sliding fee scale," Harris said.
Residents can grow flowers and food crops but cannot grow anything illegal and invasive.
Looking ahead
Harris said the city will be working on adding trails in that area and a gazebo on top of the hill by the water tank. They also hope to add a tree farm.
Availability for the Post Oak Community Garden is based on a first-come, first serve basis. Applications will be available on Aug. 7, with planting to begin on Sept. 7.
- 193 Goddard, Kyle
- www.cityofkyle.com/bc-prc/community-gardens-committee
