Hurt Park Community Garden Dedicated

Young girl plants a tomato.

Hurt Park neighbors dig in.

Mark Powell (hat) shows garden plan (taped to cistern) to Mayor David Bowers . I

Mayor David Bowers (in vest) dedicates the garden.

One of my favorite people, Christina Koomen, has been a strong advocate of community gardens in Roanoke for some time now and it was to her delight that the new Hurt Park Community Garden was dedicated Saturday. The garden, like the one in Southeast Roanoke before it, is the brainchild of Mark Powell.

Hurt Park is a quiet, working class neighborhood that is mostly African-American and Hispanic and is a perfect spot for a community garden.

Mayor David Bowers  blessed the cistern (which will provide collected rainwater to the garden) and the garden. as the neighbors and their children dug in. Literally.

The photos are courtesy of Christina.