Reservations Open For Romeoville Community Garden Plots

ROMEOVILLE, IL — Registration is underway for the Cooperative Community Gardens Program, a gardening initiative between Romeoville and Lockport.

The Romeoville Parks and Recreation Department and Lockport Township Park District team up each year to offer 10-foot-by-10-foot plots at Sunset Park, 729 Murphy Drive, for growing fruits and vegetables.

While Romeoville staff maintain the garden, Lockport staff maintain the park.

The growing season at the community garden, open daily from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., is April 15 to Oct. 28.

Reservations take place from Feb. 1-5 for returning renters, from Feb. 6-12 for Romeoville and Lockport Township residents, and from Feb. 13-28 for non-residents.

Residents are charged $20 for a plot; the fee doubles for non-residents. Cash deposits of $25 are required for key placement in case guidelines are not followed or damage occurs, officials said.

There are a few ground rules in place for the community garden, including:

• Plots are limited to one per household.
• Gardeners should bring their own watering cans; hoses are not allowed.
• Fencing and mesh are not provided, though gardeners are allowed to temporarily divide their plots during the growing season.
• No chemicals are allowed in the gardens as pesticides can potentially drift or run off the land. Over-the-counter fertilizers are permitted.

Locals can register and reserve a plot by visiting the Romeoville Recreation Department, 900 W. Romeo Road.

All landscape waste, stakes and fencing must be removed by Nov. 1, officials said. Deposits can be picked up upon returning keys after Nov. 12.