Morris Plains Council Moves Forward With Community Garden

On Nov. 11, the Morris Plains Borough Council moved ahead with a project that has been discussed for years: establishing a community garden–a dedicated piece of land at 51 Central Ave.–where residents can gather to tend their own personal garden plots.

The council authorized the purchase of fencing for the site, and Mayor Frank Druetzler set up an advisory committee to write rules and regulations for the garden. Finalizing these rules and regulations, a requirement for any project on borough-owned land, will be the last step in the approval process for the garden.

The action was taken following a formal report by George Ross, a member of the beautification committee.

Ross covered the history of the project and said council members and borough citizens have been very positive and enthusiastic. He detailed activity at the site, explaining that some brush pruning was completed by the road department, initial plowing has been done by the County Park Commission, and rock removal was conducted by the Sheriff's Labor Assistance Program, or SLAP.  

Work that has yet to be done, Ross said, includes installing fencing, publicizing the project and, if interest is high, conducting a lottery to award gardens. Layout of the actual gardens, installation of water connections and creating mulch pathways, he said, should be completed in early March.

Ross said the plan is to have 46 garden plots in total:  20 child/senior citizen plots and 26 larger family plots, with one reserved for demonstrations.  The community garden would be operational Mar. 15 to Nov. 15 each year. "Grandfathering" of gardens would be allowed and a yearly fee charged. The beautification committee would be responsible for managing the garden. 

Registration information is expected to be released in February, 2011. The Central Avenue site is dedicated open space under the Green Acres program. 

"Mr. Ross has done an excellent job with this thing," council member George Coogan said. Joe Cecala and Sue McCluskey, also members of the council, said they were pleased that the project is moving forward.

"I'm thrilled," said Ross, "I think it's going to be a good addition to the town; something everyone can participate in."