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Indybay Feature

Beach Flats Garden Supporters Raise Funds for Land Purchase

by via Beach Flats Garden Coalition
Beach Flats Garden Supporters Raise Funds for Land Purchase; Coalition Urges City to Drop Threats to Gardeners, Seek Creative Solution
800_beach_flats_community_garden.jpg
The Beach Flats Garden Coalition announced it is organizing a community fundraising campaign to help the City of Santa Cruz purchase the Beach Flats Community Garden property. Neighborhood volunteers have spent over 20 years transforming this once derelict dumping ground into a verdant oasis, cited recently by researchers for its outstanding biodiversity and cultural significance. Meanwhile, the city has indicated it intends to fence off 40% of the site (well over half of the cultivated land) on Tuesday, February 2, and eject all but one of the current gardeners from their plots.

Gardeners and coalition members will be available to speak with the press about the recent developments this Tuesday, February 2nd at noon, at the garden site on Raymond Street between Leibrandt and 3rd.

In October, the City Council voted unanimously to negotiate purchase of the current site as a public park. Current gardeners, as well as hundreds of community supporters, have spent hours in meetings with city officials in the effort to cooperate and support creative plans to save the entire garden. On January 25th, three gardeners delivered a letter signed by seventeen of their colleagues, saying they are “hoping and trusting in the work being done by the city to buy the land.” The letter, delivered in person to Parks and Recreation director Dannettee Shoemaker, stated that all gardeners who signed “wish to continue growing food here in the Beach Flats garden.”

Community members now fear that City leaders are showing signs of backing away from their commitment to the garden. Despite the City Council’s October resolution to attempt to purchase the entire garden, city staff has not yet begun the negotiations process. Instead, as expressed in an unexpected statement sent to gardeners on January 30, the City Council “has directed the City Attorney to prepare to initiate appropriate legal action” against them, ignoring the gardeners’ continued interest in gardening.

The Santa Cruz community is stepping up to help the Council achieve its promise. “At the moment, we are speaking with major donors who are interested in making matching grants. If every one of the 3900 people who signed the petition in support of the garden donates just $10, we will be able to raise a significant part of the purchase price ,” said Lynne Cooper, fundraising committee member. “While this is just the beginning, we hope the City sees how excited we are to find a creative solution to this community need.” Cooper said the group plans to hold a fundraising kickoff event later this month.

Gardeners and advocates alike concur with Kris Reyes, Santa Cruz Seaside Company spokesperson, who stated in a recent interview on KAZU that the city needs to start talking about “creative solutions” to protect this garden. Garden supporters hope that the fundraising campaign will encourage the City to do just that.

To contribute, go to:
https://www.everribbon.com/ribbon/donate/26087
Add Your Comments

Comments (Hide Comments)
by Razer Ray
My understanding is "Despite the City Council’s October resolution to attempt to purchase the entire garden..." the seaside company has no interest whatsoever in selling the property and that was made very clear at the council meetings.

Better prepare for a fight with the council to force the city to declare eminent domain, for the public good.

That's like forcing the city to bite the hand that feeds it (...feeds it it's only substantial source of tourist revenue)
by wondering
Might as well let the public see what the city is up to.

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