Politics & Government

Support Sought for Community Garden

Organizers of a proposed community garden in Red Bank are looking for the public to help back the effort.

The push to land a community garden in Red Bank isn't over.

The Red Bank Community Garden Committee is asking the public to help support a renewed effort to bring the garden discussion back to the table after numerous , , and failed to convince borough council last year.

Garden committee member Cindy Burnham said recently that the effort to develop a garden in Red Bank is far from over, despite the lack of public activity over the past few months. The committee and the borough council, which is not generally opposed to the idea, have butted heads over the proposed location of the garden. The committee would like it to be located along the Navesink River at highly-visible 94 Front St.

Find out what's happening in Red Bank-Shrewsburywith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Borough council members have said, essentially, anywhere but there.

Burnham said the garden committee will appear before the council at its next meeting on March 14 with three potential sites for the garden, including, again, 94 Front St.

Find out what's happening in Red Bank-Shrewsburywith free, real-time updates from Patch.

The garden committee is smitten with the 94 Front St. location for a number of reasons. The location represents a prime growing spot with its access to sunlight and public water, but that's not the only reason the committee is fighting for the valuable waterfront space. Gardeners say part of the exercise of running a community garden is providing access and educating the public about the process. With a garden situated near downtown Red Bank directly behind the , visibility would be at its highest.

The council has objected to the location, though has failed to provide an actual reason, instead telling the gardeners to pursue another location. Some feel as though the borough doesn't want to commit to having a garden occupy a valuable piece of waterfront land.

In all, the garden committee has reviewed 59 available properties and have come to the same conclusion, that 94 Front St. is best. How the council will feel this time around remains to be seen.


Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.

We’ve removed the ability to reply as we work to make improvements. Learn more here