$130K En Route To Help Green New Haven

Twenty-seven community gardens and three nature preserves will get new soil, tools, hoop houses, raised beds, and other improvements thanks to an infusion of state cash.

The cash is coming in the form of a $70,000 grant to the city and the nonprofit Gather New Haven. It was one of six ​“urban green and community garden grants,” totaling $276,200, announced Wednesday by Gov. Ned Lamont.

Another $60,950 grant under the program has been approved to support a plan by the city and the nonprofit Urban Resources Initiative (URI) to modernize Kimberly Field in the Kimberly Square neighborhood. (Click here to read a previous story about that.)

Also on Tuesday, Gather New Haven announced it is receiving a second, $200,000 grant from The U.S. Department of Energy and the National Renewable Energy Laboratory. The grant is prize Gather won in a competition for ​“inclusive energy innovation” ideas. Gather plans to develop a program along with the nonprofit group MakeHaven to ​“increase awareness and contributions from underrepresented groups in STEm fields by recruiting and supporting young aspiring entrepreneurs in development and prototyping equitable clean energy solutions … that are responsive to community needs.”

Here’s how a release from Lamont’s office described the $70,000 Gather New Haven grant: ​“Gather New Haven supports more than 50 community gardens and six nature preserves in New Haven. This project is to improve and restore 27 gardens and 3 preserves based upon a comprehensive needs assessment. Some gardens received funding from previous UGCG grants (2010 and 2014) but have additional needs to ensure sustainability and community support. All sites are publicly accessible. Most need soil, many need raised beds and new tools, and several need new sheds (a safe, secure place to lock tools and equipment). Other needs include hoop houses, low tunnels to extend the growing season, fencing, signage, and improved trails and pathways to ensure safe walking conditions. Gather New Haven will work with community volunteers to increase the productive growing, enhance community spaces, and complement community engagement and food-related programs. Pre-pandemic activities included hosting school groups, community potluck dinners, art shows, musical performances, movie nights, yoga classes, and other workshops. Some of these are starting to return, especially hosting school groups. The gardens provide access to healthy foods of various ages and ethnic backgrounds. Gather New Haven’s Community Garden Manager and staff work closely with community members to create free events about the environment and healthy eating and engaging others in stewardship and cultivation of land for a healthier community and environment.”

Here’s how a release form Lamont’s office described the $60,950 Kimberly Field grant: ​“The City of New Haven and the Urban Resources Initiative (URI) plan to transform Kimberly Field, the largest park in the Hill neighborhood. It is currently overgrown with invasives, has a neglected baseball field that drains poorly resulting in wet, unusable conditions, and a basketball court that is in need of repairs. The city and URI will create a walking trail around the perimeter of the field and connect it to the adjacent Betsey Ross Arts Magnet School Middle School so the school can use the space daily. The first objective is to create a safe environment, clear trash, remove existing derelict features, demolish baseball backstops and dugouts, and bring in social service agencies to relocate individuals. A 6‑foot-wide walking trail accessible to persons with disabilities for recreational use will be constructed, with road millings, compacted and covered with stone dust. Twenty-four trees, shrubs, and wildflowers will be planted along the trail to provide shade and create a beautiful inviting space. To ensure safe access for people with disabilities, permeable pavers will be installed to cover the sloped area between the school and trail/field, and benches and trash receptacles will be added. URI will engage students, families, school staff, and residents in volunteer workdays to plant, mulch, and water the garden along the trail. Local youth will water the vegetation twice weekly, and after the improvements are completed, the city’s Parks and Public Works Departments will maintain the property to include mowing of the lawn and trash removal.”