Volunteers are getting close to completing the long-awaited Heritage Garden, located at the intersection of 2nd Street West and 3rd Avenue.
After a summer of work by volunteers and inmates from the Drumheller Institution, most of the garden is finished. The garden beds, shelters, and most of the plants are completed. All that is left are a few finishing touches.
The Heritage Garden, an ambitious project at the corner of 2nd Street West and 3rd Avenue, is almost complete. Volunteers and Drumheller Institution inmates worked hard over the summer, planting, weeding, and finishing the shelters. The Community Garden Association is aiming to finish the project next summer.
“It still needs some work, but I’m pleased with how things have turned out,” said Trish Parker, with the Community Garden Association. “The inmates really helped us out. Without them, it wouldn’t have happened.” The Community Garden Association is aiming to put paths through the park next summer and are considering a few more additions.
“We’d like to add lighting, we have birdhouses planned, and we’d like to get some more trees,” said Patrice Wolfe, a member of the Community Garden Association. “I would love to add some colour to the garden, like a mural, paintings, or sculptures.”
A unique feature of the garden is it uses flora native to the prairies of Alberta. Next summer, signage is hoped to be installed where residents can learn about the various species of plants, so they may plant their own at home.
“There would be a code you’d scan, then it would come up with what the plant is and what it needs,” said Parker. “All these plants are locally grown, in and around Calgary, so they can take our crazy weather.”
The construction of the park was made possible through a grant from the provincial Community Initiatives Program, which issues grants as high as $75,000. However, to continue with construction, the Community Garden Association will be fundraising over the winter.
The most important need at this point is volunteers, who build, weed, plant, and more.
“It is difficult to maintain these large gardens. We’ve spent a lot of time over the summer building and weeding things. It takes a community to maintain these gardens,” said Wolfe. “I think it’s going to be a gem for the community.”
For more information on the Heritage Garden or to volunteer, contact Wolfe at 403-820-1763.
