'Urban Farm' Envisioned for Evergreen Park

Picture horses, chickens, goats—and a way to stock the Evergreen Park food pantry.

Evergreen Park officials are in the early stages of building an urban farm on a five-acre portion of former Evergreen Country Club, Mayor Jim Sexton said last week. The Village has been granted a $500,000 state grant for the project, which will serve the dual purpose of growing crops for the pantry, while educating local children about farm life, reports Chicago Tribune.

The farm would include horses, chickens, goats and other small farm animals. Officials will look to community volunteers to maintain the farm’s agricultural component.

Trustee Mark Marzullo hopes it will draw children away from screens, and into their natural environment.

“This will give them a chance to see how things were done 100 years ago, before food came in pre-packaged forms at the grocery store,” he said, as reported by the Tribune.

The farm is the newest use for a portion of the land, which has been parceled out into a dog park, golf driving range and a disc golf course.

Read more via Chicago Tribune.