ORONO DONATION GARDEN PARK
Orono’s Donation Garden is in Peril
Since 1993, this successful garden has grown many thousands of tons of food for the needy in surrounding communities. Slated for 9 Pickleball Courts, the Orono Park Commission is developing plans to encroach on not only the growing area, but also possibly hamper the drainage around the garden by placing hardcover right up to the western, northern and southern edges. The plan as it stands right now blocks the entrance to the garden.
For more information about the latest 1/2/24 Orono Park Commission meeting, watch our recording here: https://youtu.be/7pShl3g_u_A?feature=shared
For more information see https://thedonationgarden.org/ to learn more about this successful community effort.
Plan “D” that was presented to Citizens in early December. It was developed behind the scenes with the Park Commissioners, Mayor Walsh and the commercial development fire Bolton & Menk in October and November 2023. Note how the courts actually block the west entrance to the garden. Also note that the trees drawn in show the lack of knowledge and understanding of a food garden. There shouldn’t be additional shade added to the growing area. To date, no noise studies have been done. No traffic or parking studies have been done and yet, Bolton & Menk have been contacted to design this space without the Holbrook neighborhood input. Also not included in this project is neighboring Long Lake and their Fire Chief. The in and out of all this traffic may hamper the response time of the volunteer Firefighters. As Orono bleeds funds for projects the Citizens don’t want or need, the logic and long term planning is obviously falling short of what is best for the majority of residents.