By Publisher/Writer Liz Gotthelf of Saco Bay News
BIDDEFORD — The Williams Court Park community garden is an urban oasis on the corner of Williams and South streets.
A sunflower basks in the sun, standing tall next to lush tomato and squash. Look around and you’ll also see carrots, lettuce broccoli, spinach, basil and even orange thyme.
“Everything is thriving,” said Kirste Simmons, a volunteer who helps oversee the garden. Simmons, who lives a few blocks away from the park, is a frequent visitor to the garden, and enjoys lending her time to help pull weeds, water plants or whatever else is needed.
Williams Court Park on the corner of Williams and South streets, in a downtown residential area with many multi-units.
The garden has attracted interest in the neighborhood, not just from people like Simmons, who enjoy gardening, but to others who find the place a peaceful spot to sit and enjoy the outdoors, and to those who are delighted to accept a gift of a fresh vegetable. Simmons said that neighbors of the park keep a watchful eye over the garden when volunteers aren’t around.
The Williams Court Park garden is part of the Biddeford Community Garden program. With the help of dedicated volunteers and local sponsors, the effort has created a children’s garden at Pierson’s Lane Playground and a garden at Sullivan Street in addition to the garden at Williams Court park.
The Williams Court garden was created in 2012 with the help of federal funds through the Community Development Block Grant program. It began with eight raised beds that can be used for free by community members.
The Williams Court garden is growing – in more ways than one. An adaptive raised bed has been installed that’s at a more accessible level for people in wheelchairs or for those who can’t bend over to reach the lower beds. Another eight garden beds are in the works and there are plans for fruit trees and bushes.
“We call it our victory garden,” said Biddeford Community Garden Coordinator Holly Culloton. Vegetables harvested from the new beds will be distributed to members of the neighborhood.
“We’ll plant a few different veggies, but a whole lot of them,” said Culloton, so that there will be plenty to share.
The Biddeford Community Garden effort has also sponsored educational programs like children’s cooking classes, and Culloton said she would some day like to see community gardens in every ward in the city.
Publisher/Writer Liz Gotthelf can be reached at newsdesk@sacobaynews.com