Art Wilkinson Park Community Garden

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Thank you to everyone who participated in our Art Wilkinson Park Community Garden engagement. This project is no longer open for input.

Project update #4 May 26, 2022:

At the May 10, 2022 Regular Meeting of Council, City Council cancelled the Art Wilkinson Park Community Garden project. Read staff's Report to Council.

Project update #3 February 9, 2022:

At the January 25, 2022 Regular Meeting of Council, City Council discussed the community garden and passed the following motions: that work on the Art Wilkinson Park Community Garden project be paused for 30 days; and that a meeting with the Glenayre Community Association be scheduled as soon as possible.

Watch the video of the meeting to hear the discussion.

Project update #2 January 14, 2022

City Council has decided to proceed with the installation of a community garden at Art Wilkinson Park. Read more.

Project update #1 January 11, 2022:

Thank you to everyone who filled out our survey. Here's what we heard:

The results of the survey will inform the City’s decision-making process.

About the project


We are proposing a 60-plot community garden in the north-east corner of Art Wilkinson Park to be managed by the Grow Local Society. The footprint of the garden would be approximately 650 square metres or four per cent of the park’s total area.

A community garden provides members of the community with a place to grow their own food and meet their neighbours. Art Wilkinson Park was identified as a suitable location based on assessment of a variety of factors such as access to sunlight and water, access to transit and parking, potential for school or community partnerships, and current and future site use.

Community garden plots are in high demand in Port Moody, and the installation of a new garden would help the City meet its goals of enhancing food security and social connectedness through urban agriculture (as stated in the Parks and Recreation Master Plan). This location in the Glenayre neighbourhood provides sufficient space for a garden to flourish. Read staff’s Report to Council on this topic.

Project update #4 May 26, 2022:

At the May 10, 2022 Regular Meeting of Council, City Council cancelled the Art Wilkinson Park Community Garden project. Read staff's Report to Council.

Project update #3 February 9, 2022:

At the January 25, 2022 Regular Meeting of Council, City Council discussed the community garden and passed the following motions: that work on the Art Wilkinson Park Community Garden project be paused for 30 days; and that a meeting with the Glenayre Community Association be scheduled as soon as possible.

Watch the video of the meeting to hear the discussion.

Project update #2 January 14, 2022

City Council has decided to proceed with the installation of a community garden at Art Wilkinson Park. Read more.

Project update #1 January 11, 2022:

Thank you to everyone who filled out our survey. Here's what we heard:

The results of the survey will inform the City’s decision-making process.

About the project


We are proposing a 60-plot community garden in the north-east corner of Art Wilkinson Park to be managed by the Grow Local Society. The footprint of the garden would be approximately 650 square metres or four per cent of the park’s total area.

A community garden provides members of the community with a place to grow their own food and meet their neighbours. Art Wilkinson Park was identified as a suitable location based on assessment of a variety of factors such as access to sunlight and water, access to transit and parking, potential for school or community partnerships, and current and future site use.

Community garden plots are in high demand in Port Moody, and the installation of a new garden would help the City meet its goals of enhancing food security and social connectedness through urban agriculture (as stated in the Parks and Recreation Master Plan). This location in the Glenayre neighbourhood provides sufficient space for a garden to flourish. Read staff’s Report to Council on this topic.

Thank you to everyone who participated in our Art Wilkinson Park Community Garden engagement. This project is no longer open for input.

  • Community garden to be installed at Art Wilkinson Park

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    At the January 11, 2022 Regular Meeting of Council, City Council decided to proceed with the installation of a community garden at Art Wilkinson Park (492 Glencoe Drive) for the following reasons:

    • the garden will provide members of the community with a place to grow their own food, build social connections, and be active outdoors;
    • recent studies have found that community gardens offer mental health benefits;
    • additional garden plots will help the City meet its goals of enhancing food security and social connectedness through urban agriculture;
    • gardens aid in making a community more resilient to climate change – the varied plant material increases biodiversity, provides a source of food for pollinators, and reduces the urban heat island effect during periods of extreme heat;
    • Art Wilkinson Park is a highly suitable location due to a variety of factors such as access to sunlight and water, access to transit and parking, and potential for school or community partnerships; and
    • community garden plots are in high demand in Port Moody.

    In September 2021, we asked Glenayre residents to tell us what they thought about a proposal to add a community garden to the neighbourhood, and we received 119 completed surveys in response. We value input from the public and thank all respondents for taking the time to share their thoughts. In making their decision, Council considered the survey results along with additional factors, such as staff assessment of suitable locations for a garden, goals set out in Port Moody’s Parks and Recreation Master Plan, and the potential benefits of a garden for the community as a whole.

    Many respondents expressed concern that a community garden may have negative impacts such as traffic and parking lot congestion or an increase in encounters with dangerous wildlife. Local and regional experiences with community gardens have shown us, however, that impacts on the surrounding neighbourhood are typically positive. Here is some information that may help alleviate concerns related to wildlife and traffic congestion:

    Wildlife
    Community gardens are no different than a residential garden and contain a variety of plants, both edible and ornamental. Certain plants attract bears more than others. The City works with community garden groups to ensure that gardens adhere to the City’s Human-Bear Management Plan.

    Traffic and parking
    The Grow Local Society is the group that will manage the garden and the City will work with their members to ensure the garden is managed in line with City policies and bylaws. While the City is proposing 60 garden plots at this location, we do not anticipate that all users will visit the location at the same time and any increase to traffic and parking at the existing parking lot at the Glenayre Community Centre will be minor.

    City staff will monitor the Art Wilkinson Park Community Garden and any impacts on the surrounding neighbourhood, and present a report to Council after the garden has been in use for one year.