71st and Crandon Organic Garden

Contact Information: Connect with a garden leader at crandongarden@neighbor-space.org
Address: 2301 E 71st Street
Neighborhood/Community Area: South Shore
Garden Established:
Protected by NeighborSpace: 2014
Social Media/Website: 71st and Crandon Garden
Community Partners:71st and Oglesby Block Club

About the Garden: (from 71st and Crandon.org) The 71st and Crandon Organic Garden is located on three vacant city lots in the heart of South Shore, just blocks from the South Shore Cultural Center. The garden was born as a result of the 5th Ward Participatory Budget process. There were months of public meetings at which members of the community asked for multiple community gardens. This desire was winnowed down to a single vision for a garden on the corner of 71st and Crandon. The project would go on to receive more votes than any other in the participatory budgeting process.

In May 2016, 200 hours of volunteer service were donated by moving multiple yards of mulch and soil and planting a total of 19 trees and shrubs: 2 black cherry trees, 5 American plum trees, 1 black walnut tree, 1 pecan tree, 5 hazelnut shrubs, 2 bald cypress, 2 swamp white oaks, and 1 linden tree. These 19 trees/shrubs will help clean the air, reduce runoff into combined sewers, and create a gathering space for the community.