Title
Declaring September 13, 2014 as Community Gardening Day in the City of St. Paul.
Body
Whereas, The City of Saint Paul is home to over 93 community gardens; and,
Whereas, Community gardens beautify our neighborhoods, strengthen block clubs, and enhance community crime prevention efforts; and,
Whereas, Community gardens provide cross-cultural and intergenerational opportunities for people to come together in creative and artistic ways, and,
Whereas, Community gardens exist in every ward of the City of Saint Paul, crisscrossing our city from Totem Town Community Garden in Battle Creek to the Midway GreenSpirit Community Garden, and from Fort Road Community Garden in the West 7th Neighborhood to the Phalen Village Community Garden of District 2; and,
Whereas, Community gardens reduce the urban heat island effect and filter rainwater, helping to keep our rivers, lakes, and groundwater clean; and,
Whereas, Community gardens provide access to nutritionally rich and culturally specific foods that may otherwise be unavailable to inner-city residents; and,
Whereas, Community gardens provide horticultural therapy and exercise, helping to draw people out of their homes and get active; and,
Whereas, Community gardens educate neighbors about land stewardship, providing an informal classroom for children and adults to learn skills caring for the natural environment; and,
Whereas, the City of St. Paul completed an inventory of public land available for urban agriculture use through the Department of Recreation; and,
Whereas, the City of St. Paul is encouraging greater access to healthy foods for all residents through initiatives such as the St. Paul-Ramsey County Food and Nutrition Commission; and,
Whereas, St. Paul residents are supporting each other in growing their own food through the Local Food Resource Hubs in the Midway, East Side, and West Side/West 7th neighborhoods; and,
Whereas, community gardens in St. Paul will host open house celebrations for the public on September 13th 2014, giving neighbors a better chance to know about community gardening;
Now, Therefore, be it Resolved, That the Saint Paul City Council commends the 2,400 Saint Paul residents who participate in community gardens for their valuable contributions to our City; and,
Be It Further Resolved, that September 13, 2014 shall be declared as "Community Gardening Day" in the City of Saint Paul.