GENEVA, IL — Geneva residents can give their pumpkins a second life — and experience some catharsis, perhaps — by smashing the orange gourds at the annual Pumpkin Smash event Nov. 7.
The city's Natural Resources Committee and the Geneva Park District are sponsoring the event from 9 a.m. to noon at the Community Gardens at Prairie Green Preserve, located at Peck and Bricher roads.
In an effort to reduce the number of pumpkins that end up in landfills, park district staff will till the smashed pumpkins and use them to enrich the soil in the garden plots.
Before pumpkins can be recycled, participants should remove all decorations, including paint, candles, yarn hair, stickers, googly eyes and plastic accessories.
The Community Gardens at Prairie Green is a cooperative partnership between the Geneva Park District, the City of Geneva and the Forest Preserve District of Kane County.
In addition to gardening classes, the park district offers 131 rental plots, measuring 20 feet by 30 feet, to the community. The plots are open from dawn until dusk between April and October.
Gardeners returning from the 2026 season can sign up for their same plot next year starting Dec. 1. New gardeners may register for available plots beginning Feb. 1, 2027. More information is available on the park district's website.
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