Seven fourth-graders from Independence Elementary hope kids from across the community will join them for fun activities in Depot Park’s Living Garden this summer.
The girls dubbed the park’s perennial bed ‘The Living Garden? after an idea for a community garden began to take shape.
After discussion with the city manager, several city council members and the DPW, the group was given permission to care for the garden, which is located opposite of the playground just past the water fountain.
The group first went to the park on a cold, windy Sunday a few weeks back to get started with some early clean up. They raked, bagged debris and moved stones.
‘Those girls worked for a solid hour,? said Julie Piazza, mother of 10-year-old Caryann, who first dreamed up the idea on a white board in her bedroom. ‘They did not stop.?
All seven girls and their moms belong to a mother and daughter book club that meets once a month to talk, build friendships, and discuss the latest novel they’ve read.
The moms, said Piazza, have multi-dimensional goals for the girls: foster long-term friendships, develop critical thinking skills, and cultivate leadership ability.
The garden activities, she said, will be an educational and fun project for the girls, as well, and will include goals of beautifying Depot Park, encouraging play, promoting care of the environment and encouraging children to make a difference where they live and play.
Plans include spring and fall clean-up, as well as watering, pruning and other summer maintenance.
And when the work is finished, each mother and daughter will take turns choosing and facilitating a weekly activity.
Possibilities include bubble blowing, scavenger hunts, bird identification, hula hoops, and, of course, book readings.