Whether you live in an apartment or condominium, or have a yard that just won’t support plantings, our Community Garden program provides a wonderful opportunity to let your garden grow!
What is a Community Garden?
Parks and Recreation has individual pieces of land, called community gardens, across the city that are cultivated collectively by a group of people primarily for the purpose of growing flowers and vegetables. These community gardens provide a unique but valuable recreational activity that contribute to the health and well-being of a community and that can provide a wide range of environmental, social and educational benefits.
Gardens in our Parks
Community gardens bring positive activity to the parks. They provide a forum for neighbors to join together and forge strong community bonds. They are a source of fresh, affordable, local produce – some of which is donated to the community and used in our nutritional cooking programs. Gardens are also a fantastic learning tool for children. Most kids have a natural love of gardening, and their enthusiasm often spills over into the school subjects that may be related to the garden (i.e. math, science etc.).
Leasing a Plot
City residents are given the opportunity to lease garden plots. By leasing plots, residents are afforded the opportunity to participate in a positive gardening experience through educational programs which focus on practical gardening techniques appropriate for the six growing seasons in our region. The City of Columbia provides water for all community gardens located on City owned and operated land.
Three of our community garden sites have plots available for annual leasing: NOMA, Hyatt Park and Granby Park. The annual plot fee includes the use of a raised bed and a water source. Fees must be paid at the time of registration, and plots will be assigned on a first-come, first-served basis.
Our educational and community garden sites:
- Ben Arnold | 100 South Holly Street
- Ensor Forest | 4520 Monticello Road (Garden and Greenhouse)
- Granby Park | 100 Catawba Street
- Hampton Park | 1117 Brandon Avenue
- Hyatt Park | 950 Jackson Avenue
- Lorick Park | 1600 Lorick Ave
- Lyon St. Community | 1207 McDuffie Street
- Martin Luther King Jr. Park | 2300 Greene Street
- Melrose Park | 1500 Fairview Drive
- NOMA (North Main) Earlewood Park | 2700 River Drive
- Owens Field Park | 1351 Jim Hamilton Blvd.
- Pacific Park | 200 Wayne Street
- Pinehurst Park | 2300 Pinehurst Road
- Sims Park | 3500 Duncan Street
- St. Anna’s Park | 1310 Lyon Street
- Woodland Park | 6500 Olde Knight Parkway
How to Participate:
Plots are limited to one per family unit.
Download, review and sign the Community Garden Rules and Regulations, Land Release Form, and Community Garden Application, or contact Parks and Recreation by phone at 803-545-3100, for an application and more information on garden plots.
Applications should be mailed, delivered or faxed to: Columbia Parks & Recreation Department, 1111 Recreation Dr., Columbia, SC 29201; fax: 803-343-8744.
