Brewer seeks volunteer groups to maintain garden
Wednesday, August 31, 2005

The city is looking for people who like to get their hands dirty.

City staff are working on an "Adopt a Park" program so area groups, school classes or organizations can help maintain the nearly complete Penobscot Children's Garden.

"These groups are vital," Ken Hanscom, director of the Parks and Recreation Department, said Tuesday. "We realize that for this program to be successful, it's going to take long-term commitment from different groups."

To get the word out about the new program, an October public meeting is being planned. The city hopes to recruit at least six volunteer groups that would adopt and maintain a portion of the three-fourths-acre children's garden.

The waterfall, rock garden, walking bridge and performing area are in place, and the planting of the various gardens is planned for the spring, Hanscom said.

Five types of gardens will be planted at the site including a secret garden, a wetland garden, an heirloom garden, a woodland garden and an education garden that will be planted with herbs and native Maine plants. A hedge maze, plant sculptures and a story area with granite seating also are planned.

"The garden was originally envisioned as a place that kids, focusing on pre-school through grade five, could call their own on the waterfront," Drew Sachs, Brewer economic development director, said Tuesday. "It was intended to be a mixture of whimsy, fun and educational experiences."

Master gardener Kathleen Flecky, who teaches at Husson College, already has volunteered to take a leadership role with the project to help the city with organization. She is meeting with city officials Thursday to discuss scheduling several coming public meetings, including the one in October, so volunteer groups can step forward and give their input.

Work crews from Sprague's Nursery & Garden Center in Bangor broke ground in August 2004 at the site, which is located behind Dead River Co. at 103 South Main St., and finished their portion of the project this summer.

The garden connects to a walking path that eventually will run the length of the city's ambitious Penobscot Landing project, which spans the area between the three bridges and the former Eastern Fine Paper Co. mill.

Local Boy Scout Taylor Tremble of Troop 15 already has built and installed a footbridge for the garden that allows people to walk across the rock garden.

The city will continue to mow the area and will do trimming but is relying on volunteers to work the soil, to do any planting or weeding and to water during dry weather.

"We just can't do that as a department," the parks and recreation director said. "I think that's the beauty of this - to get the community involved."

Plaques that recognize the volunteer groups that care for the gardens will be displayed at the individual gardens, Hanscom said.

For more information, call the Brewer Parks and Recreation Department at 989-5199.