Renovation + Regrowth 2018-2020

 

The Somerville Community Growing Center started in 1993, with the first plantings and activities on this city-owned site starting in 1994. Community members were actively engaged in the design, construction and care of the site for over 20 years. Over time, natural processes challenged the initial 10-year design plan, requiring attention such as repair of retaining walls and efforts to retain safe access. To create a more sustainable future, the Friends of the Community Growing Center began an assessment and community design process back in 2012, which evolved into a multi-year effort to bring the recommended design to reality through the support of several Community Preservation Act awards to move forward to the recent significant site renovations. The Friends have a license with the City to manage this unique urban greenspace, which includes raising required funding.

 

After months of renovation and construction from September 2018 to May 2019, the major site work was complete and the Center hosted a re-opening celebration in June. Yet there are still many elements remaining to achieve all the goals of the renovation. Some of these will engage Somerville High School and local university students which requires some of the work to take place on an academic schedule in 2019-2020. Others require raising additional funds for supplies and materials. These needed funds will also help pay for the expansion of free community programming in the renovated site, as well as cover basic operating costs and insurance fees.  

 

FUNDRAISING GOAL: $45,000

​

Become a sponsor! Email give@thegrowingcenter.org to find out how.

 

There are many ways to give:

 

Through our GoFundMe Campaign page:

https://www.gofundme.com/f/the-growing-center-cultivate-campaign-2019

​

Check:

If you would like to donate by check, you can mail your

donation to:

 

The Somerville Community Growing Center

P.O. Box 76

Somerville, MA 02143

 

Through PayPal:

​

In-Kind Donations:

We also accept in-kind donations of goods and services. 

The Growing Center can use specific supplies and resources to complete. Please contact us with questions.

 

A partial list of historical funders includes:

Community Preservation Fund/City of Somerville, Cummings School After School Funds, Greater Boston Urban Resource Partnership, Harpley Foundation, Kendall Foundation, New England Grassroots Environmental Fund/Boston Initiative and Grassroots Fund, Somerville Arts Council, Gaining Ground in collaboration with the Greeley Foundation, Somerville Neighborhood Community Improvement Grants, Tufts Neighborhood Service Fund, and generous private individual donors.

 

Many thanks to our former fiscal agents for their assistance in our early years, including Somerville Community Access TV, the Somerville Environmental & Recycling Volunteers, the Community Action Agency of Somerville, and Groundwork Somerville.

​