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West-side garden project planting seeds of renewal
By M.K. Guetersloh
mkguetersloh@pantagraph.com
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BLOOMINGTON -- Plans for revitalizing the city’s west side are starting to take root at Roosevelt and Mulberry streets.

Planting of a community garden started a little late in the summer, but the effort has brought together neighbors if not visible sprouts of green.

“We are growing neighbors,” said Valerie Dumser, a member of the Olde Towne Neighborhood Association and the gardener leading the project.

The idea grew from community discussions held after the city — along with local companies and neighborhood associations — hired Teska and Associates, an Evanston planning firm, to design a revitalization plan for the city’s west side. Another community forum is planned for 6:30 p.m. Oct. 14 at Mount Pisgah Baptist Church, 801 W. Market St.

The city offered its vacant lots at Roosevelt and Mulberry as a possible location for the garden. From there, the parks and recreation department added compost and tilled the soil. Engineers from Teska drew plans for 25 garden plots and the city’s water department installed a spigot so gardeners had access to water, Dumser added.

Planting started later than usual for a garden, but Dumser said crops such as broccoli, turnips and spinach seem to be doing well. Many of the flowers, donated by Sunburst Nursery, have perked up and started growing with a little care.

“There is still a lot of growing time for the cool weather crops,” Dumser said. “We may be crazy but we kind of know what we are doing.”

Dumser hopes to see the garden become another anchor of positive activity and community gatherings for the city’s west side, much like Friendship Park has become.

“It’s so marvelous to see so many kids get involved in this,” Dumser said. “After all, that is what we are trying to do — is give the kids something to do.”

The garden has given Marie Herrera an opportunity to grow flowers and vegetables. The Roosevelt apartment dweller lives in a building next to the garden.

When west-side neighbors received letters that garden plots would be available, Herrera said it was like getting a gift from God.

On a recent summer morning, Herrera couldn’t stop smiling as she showed off a plot packed with tomato plants and snapdragons.

“It won’t be long before I’ll be getting tomatoes,” Herrera added, pointing out several green tomatoes that were starting to turn a little red.

Take a look
Tomica Williams and her daughter Saleema, 11, plant flowers in a section of the West Side Community Gardens Tuesday, Aug. 19, 2008, at the corner of Mulberry and Roosevelt Streets in Bloomington. (The Pantagraph/CARLOS T. MIRANDA)
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Reader comments on this story - 3 total

Note: All views and opinions expressed in reader comments are solely those of the individual submitting the comment, and not those of the Pantagraph or its staff.

andy wrote on Sep 8, 2008 6:35 PM:

" Silent One : The best and fastest way to let (yes, I said 'let') gang members take over your neighborhood is to stand back and watch. You don't say whether you are ACTIVELY protesting against the miscreants and troublemakers of the neighborhood, but if you sit back and let them take over, that's exactly what they'll do. Get out there, literally, with friends and good neighbors, and TAKE BACK your neighborhood! I did it when I lived there, and it worked while I lived there. Hang in there and don't give up!!! "

SilentOne wrote on Sep 8, 2008 11:41 AM:

" I have lived on the west side for 20 yrs. Many ideas for the west side have been brought forward over the years but not many of them have bore fruit. One of them that has failed is friendship park. Sure the jesus house uses it to show a outdoor movie once in awhile but other than that the park is nothing but a place for gang activity. I am 50 and wouldnt go down there by myself let alone take a child down there. There have been shootings and stabbings. So to say that frienship park was a positive for the west side isnt at all correct! Even the bloomington police said it would be better if they closed this gathering spot for gang bangers and criminals! I dont think we will have to worry about the bad crowed at the garden spot because the criminal garden is at friendship park. "

andy wrote on Sep 8, 2008 7:15 AM:

" I used to live on the west side, and was active in the local neighborhood association, of which Ms. Dumser was an integral member. She showed passion and commitment in helping the residents of the area, and I can't say enough good things about her. Wonderful to hear that she is still out there doing good things for that community......way to go Val !! "
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