Historic North side Neighborhood’s Community Garden
 Northside Garden By Angie Barmer
Residents
that live in the Historic North side Neighborhood District may have
noticed a splash of color added to their neighborhood at the corner of
Cleveland and Madison Streets. This color represents the newly planted
flowers and the community garden that is located at this intersection. Members
in the community and members from the Historic North side Neighborhood
Association (HNNA) got together and decided that a community garden
would promote good stewardship in the community for young adults and
help others with healthy growing practices. Jean
Ashcraft with HNNA, said, “The biggest beauty for me is the ownership
that different people in the neighborhood are taking by offering their
time and energy to make it grow and be fun!” Ashcraft
recently attended a healthy community workshop in Jackson in which she
represented New Albany. She said, “It is very interesting and good to
know there is an under lying movement going on to help re establish
healthier thinking, eating and doing across the nation. Of course,
obesity is the number one topic and how we can get our kids and
community outside, eating and thinking healthier life practices.” The
neighborhood is filled with unique houses, the Union County Heritage
Museum, one of the New Albany Fire Department stations, New Haven Center
for Special Needs Adults, the New Albany campus for Northeast
Mississippi Community College, and the future free medical clinic. HNNA
provides activities for residents throughout the year that include the
Home and Garden Tour and other events to keep residents in the
neighborhood active. The
association also gives out a scholarship each year to a deserving high
school student. Next year’s scholarship is being revamped to encourage
good community stewardship starting with young students and working up
through savings bonds till the time they graduate. Various
people in the community volunteer their time with the upkeep of the
garden. For example, Charles Buster mows the garden, Jack Mason and Joey
Lendsey volunteer to weed eat it, Ray Bufkin planted the flowers on the
corner and built an 8-foot bench and moved cross-ties, Richard and his
wife and Tom and Veronica Wiseman donated the use of the corner to
allow all this to happen, Mayor Tim Kent provides the water and the
cross ties, David Rainy moved the initial cross-ties, and the Union
County Sheriff’s Department trustees helped move the dirt.
(« Go Back) |
