Future of community garden undetermined

CLINTONVILLE – The future is undetermined for the unused community garden located in W.A. Olen Park in Clintonville as the city considers a new location for the garden.
The Clintonville Public Works Committee discussed its options for the community garden at its June 30 meeting. The committee hopes that the discussion and future discussions will spark interest with residents regarding a community garden.
At the meeting, Clintonville Public Works Director Justin Mc Auly told the committee that the community garden located near the swinging bridge in W.A. Olen Park hasn’t been used recently and he was bringing the matter to the committee to possibly remove the community garden from the area.
Garden history
Mc Auly said the city of Clintonville originally received $3,500 in 2013 from the UW-Extension for the community garden in Olen Park.

“The main reason it was constructed was for the students,” Mc Auly said.
After St. Rose used the community garden, Clintonville Elementary School used the community garden for one year before adding a garden to their own property, Mc Auly said. Clintonville Elementary School then moved to the north side of the city.
“So, there’s no interest in it anymore,” Mc Auly said.
For around two years, the community garden was rented to the public, Mc Auly said. He said the garden is not in high demand because there is no electricity at the location, and no water hook-ups. In addition, Mc Auly said the sunlight from the south is blocked by a tree line.
“It’s kind of in the way there and people aren’t using it,” Mc Auly said.
If the city does not do something with the community garden, Mc Auly said he is afraid the garden will continue to be unused.
Ald. Aimee Ebert said there is interest in the community for a community garden.
Mc Auly said if the committee decided to move the community garden, he said a good site for the garden would be near Clintonville Municipal Airport.
“Our future DPW (Department of Public Works) facility is earmarked for out there,” Mc Auly said. “Somewhere where we can have water and electricity. …Basically, a blank canvas where we can do what the city desires in a given area out there that’s not restricted.”
Ald. Jim Supanich said he didn’t have a problem with removing the community garden in Olen Park, but he did not want to make a final decision until the city had firm plans for a new location for a community garden.
“One of the complaints we get out of the residents is that we always seem to close things and never start things,” Supanich said.
Ald. Stephanie Bonikowski said the city should have a goal to have a new community garden in place for next summer.