Stonebridge Community Garden Opens, Turning Vacant Lot into a Living Classroom

In a celebration of local food and green space, the City of Stonebridge unveiled the Stonebridge Community Garden this past Saturday - an 1‑acre plot that transforms a long‑vacant lot at 45 Smith Boulevard into a vibrant, year‑round hub for residents of all ages. The garden, built at no cost to the city’s budget thanks to a mix of community‑sourced donations, a $150,000 grant from the Miller Foundation, and a $50,000 contribution from the Stonebridge Development & Planning office, is now open for planting, classes, and community potlucks.

The City Council met in City Hall last week to approve the funding and official launch, and Mayor Elena R. Hartman cut the ribbon at 10:00 a.m. “This garden is a living testament to Stonebridge’s commitment to sustainability, community health, and neighbor‑to‑neighbor collaboration,” she said. “I’m proud to see a space that turns unused land into a place where people grow food, learn, and connect.”

City officials highlighted the garden’s role in the broader capital‑improvement plan. “The Community Garden supports our green‑infrastructure goals and helps reduce food‑desert pockets in the city,” explained Cara Orange, City Financial Manager. “It also creates a low‑cost, high‑impact project that fits perfectly within the $200 million bond‑funded improvements—particularly the water‑sewer upgrades and pedestrian‑friendly streetscape that will accompany the garden’s access road.”

Dale Doe, Financial Coordinator for Public Works, added, “The garden’s irrigation system uses reclaimed stormwater from the nearby retention basin, a direct benefit of the water‑sewer modernization part of the bond. This synergy is a great example of how our projects are interlinked.”

The garden is open from 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. on Saturdays and Sundays. Residents can register for a plot or volunteer for the garden’s “Urban Growers” program, which offers free workshops on composting, crop rotation, and plant‑based nutrition. A community‑led kitchen and potluck table will host weekly dinners featuring produce grown in the garden.

Residents with questions about plot availability, volunteer opportunities, or the garden’s partnership with local schools can contact the City’s Public Works Department (724-889-0009 ext. 23 or squeen@stonebridge.com) or the Development & Planning Office (724-889-0009 ext. 51 or sstone@stonebridge.com).

Stonebridge’s new Community Garden is proof that a city can grow together—literally and figuratively—by turning idle space into shared nourishment for body, mind, and community.