Last May neighbors and dignitaries broke ground at the site of a new P-Patch at 42nd and NW Baker Ave. Now a year later, the Hazel Heights P-Patch will celebrate its grand opening this Sunday at noon.
Groundbreaking ceremony on May 11, 2009
“It has been a long haul, especially since the site required work that no other P-Patch has because of the steepness of the slope — but what an amazing use of urban space it has turned out to be!” writes Terri Silver in an email to Fremont Universe. “What’s more, it has an underground cistern that captures rainwater from the roofs of the two nearest homes for use in the garden.”
Construction earlier this year. (Photo credit: D.C. Anstett)
Hazel Heights is named in memory of long-time Fremont resident Hazel Hurlbert, who along with her husband Don first gardened and kept bees on the p-patch land. In 2004, the Hurlbert family made the view lot at the corner of Baker NW and NW 42nd available for a community garden to honor Hazel and Don Hurlbert, who had lived in the house adjacent to the empty lot.
Former Neighborhood Council President Beckey Sukovaty and other neighbors had been looking for a community garden location for years. An anonymous donor contributed the funds needed to purchase the land and donated it to the P-Patch Trust, laying the groundwork for the Hazel Heights P-Patch.
For more details, you can follow the development of the P-Patch on its blog here. We’ll be out covering the story on Sunday, so perhaps we’ll see you there!