A decade ago, the area at Northwest Drake Street and 14th Avenue was a barren piece of city-owned land.
But a few citizens and city officials saw its potential, and with Community Development Block Grant funding in May 2010 a park on that site officially dedicated. A little gem, peacefully tucked away in northwest Camas, when it opened Benton Park featured views of Mount Hood, and offered green space, a play structure, picnic space and access to a walking trail, as well as space for a community garden.
Like any successful public project, to make this one come to fruition it earned support from city officials and neighborhood leaders.
One of those citizen leaders was local author, publisher, book editor and avid gardener Linda Stirling. Her dream was to create a community garden, and through her urging and persistence, it happened.
Today, six years later, that 18-plot Camas Community Garden remains a partnership between the city and the surrounding community. As detailed in a story in today’s Post-Record, it is serving its neighborhood well. Citizens, ranging from homeowners to apartment dwellers, are able to take advantage of all of the opportunities it provides.
And what it gives to this community is much more than just a source of nutrition. It serves as a hub where residents can connect, share, bond and celebrate.
During the next two decades, the city of Camas will continue to grow and diversify. Finding ways to maintain a tight-knit community in its neighborhoods will be important and also challenging. As the city looks to add more parks, housing and commercial businesses to its boundaries, planners should take note of what a successful community garden has to offer.
