Eleven community gardens will be preserved and enhanced for local residents and students under plans approved today by City.

Four of the gardens will be newly created on the grounds of local elementary schools through $780,686 in Open Space Impact Fees, which are special fees derived from new residential projects to help support community open spaces. Each of the projects will involve the replacement of asphalt playgrounds with native landscaping and art. The schools include:

• Kozminski Elementary Community Academy, 936 E. 54th St.
• Daniel Webster School, 4055 W. Arthington St.
• Keller Regional Gifted Center, 3020 W. 108th St.
• Locke Elementary School, 2828 N. Oak Park Ave.

Seven gardens will be preserved for ongoing community use through their sale by the City to the NeighborSpace land trust, which will provide liability insurance for local gardening groups. Each site will be sold for $1. The sites include:

• Mindful Living Garden, 3323 N. Drake Ave.
• Whipple Street Community Garden, 1622 N. Whipple Ave.
• Winthrop Harmony Arts Garden, 4919 N. Winthrop Ave.
• Avers Block Club Garden, 1900 N. Avers Ave.
• Lawndale Triangle Neighborhood Garden, 4228 W. Ogden Ave.
• 42nd Street Garden, 4200 S. Vincennes Ave.
• Calumet Heights Community Garden, 2638 E. 93rd St.

# # #