Lilburn Community Garden Holds Grand Opening

Saturday, April 20, 2013, was a beautiful day for the Lilburn community as the grand opening of the Lilburn Community Garden took place.

Approximately 75 people attended the event, including many plot renters who brought plants, shovels, and sunny smiles to begin the task of bringing the garden to life.

Dignitaries included: County Commissioner Lynette Howard; Mayor Johnny Crist; Gerald McDowell, executive director of the Lilburn CID; Councilman Tim Dunn; Doug Stacks, director of planning and economic development; Police Chief Bruce Hedley; and John Wayne Jones, assistant vice president at BB&T.

Crist offered an invocation and talked about his vision for bringing a garden to Lilburn. Peggy Bergman, president of the community garden board, offered thanks to everyone who volunteered their time, skills and effort to bring the garden to fruition. She also pointed out a few people whose help was essential to the garden. 

Columbia Engineering was among those thanked. The Duluth company which volunteered time and talents to design a garden that would meet environmental regulations, city and county codes, but most especially, the needs of the citizens of Lilburn.

In addition, Bergman offered huge thanks to Jeremy Myers, owner of Metro Maintenance Group. The company donated equipment, time and manpower to help build the first phase of the garden. They prepared the garden area, gathered materials and soil, and framed the cedar beds, among other things.

A final thanks went to the city of Lilburn and Lilburn City Council members who offered the piece of property and continued support for the garden.

Once the speeches ended, six community garden board members, along with Crist and Myers officially cut the ribbon to open the garden.

The community garden is far from finished, however, and there is still much to do. Phase two of building more than 20 additional garden beds is in planning stages. Over the next two years, organizers plan to build a gazebo, which can be used for special events and educational purposes. Other future plans include: landscaping around the entire garden area, building tool storage facilities, creating composting areas and more. 

The goal is to create a beautiful, functional, recreational and community garden that gives the people of Lilburn a special place to visit and grow together. We can’t do it alone and need your help.

The community garden is an all-volunteer, privately funded organization that is in the process of attaining 501(c)3 nonprofit status, and organizers are looking for individuals, families and businesses to be sponsors. A “Founding Sponsor” will help with the overall vision of building the garden. A “Garden Bed Sponsor” will help build additional beds, in addition to supporting facilities. All sponsors will be permanently recognized with their own plaque somewhere in the garden area. 

The community garden also needs volunteers to help with garden activities, education and event planning. The organizers hope many more Lilburn residents consider helping with the vision of "growing together."

Want more information?

• To participate in growing the Lilburn Community Garden, check the website at www.lilburncommunitygarden.org, where you can download rental and sponsor forms.

• Information about volunteering is also on the website. 

• The public may also visit the organization's Facebook page. 

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