During the Garden Plots Site Master Plan process the Park District received requests for these type of plots.

  • It’s a form of gardening where once the garden area is established, the surface is not disturbed.
  • This method does not require tilling or digging; amendments are added directly on top of the soil.
  • What are the benefits of no-till?
    • Refraining from tilling the soil avoids disrupting the physical, chemical and biological properties of the soil, thereby strengthening the soil’s microbial community. A strong microbial community processes and retains nutrients, sequesters and holds carbon, and absorbs and holds water.
  • No, the Naperville Park District does not plan to start testing the soil, since testing in one or two areas will not be representative of soil as a whole.
  • Gardeners are more than welcome to the test their plot’s soil to help them determine the type of amendments needed.
  • Soil testing kits may be purchased at local hardware stores, nurseries and online.
  • The donation station is intended as a place for Garden Plots gardeners to donate extra produce to local food pantry Loaves and Fishes.
  • Master Gardeners take this extra produce to Loaves and Fishes on a regular basis.
  • We plan to retain this donation spot, but may rotate it to face the plots, or possibly move it away from the east side parking lot.
  • Over time, the park district has worked to improve drainage at the garden plots through the addition of soil, installation of culverts, as well as other grading projects.
  • Unlike ball fields, which are graded to encourage water to flow off of a field, the garden plots area is a very flat surface, which makes for easy plowing, tilling and gardening.
  • As part of the Site Master Plan, the park district will continue to evaluate storm water drainage within the plots and when possible, will make improvements including the approach of piping ponding water away from problem areas.  When improvements are made the park district will attempt to limit the impacts to existing plots.
  • Initially, we will adjust the location of existing yard waste dumpsters to increase parking spots.
  • Parking lot maintenance, such as filling pot holes preseason and throughout the year, will occur as needed.
  • As part of the Site Master Plan, enhancements to existing parking lots and access drives is proposed.
  • The Park District confirmed that the use of permeable pavers for the proposed ADA accessible and parking lot improvements can be performed without the need to add stormwater detention at the Garden Plots and impact site amenities.
  • Some additional signage will be created to define parking and non-parking areas.

These trees will be relocated to Naperville Park District parks.

Yes, we will add more garbage/waste disposal cans for cleanup at the end of the season.

However, please note: We encourage you to leave all plant material in your plot at the end of the season. After the gleaning, this vegetation will be mowed down and then tilled, which helps to replenish the soil.

The only items that need to be removed at the end of the season are gardening tools, fencing, tomato cages, landscaping cloth, etc.

Yes, our parks staff started this process in 2022.

Yes, the Site Master Plan proposes the addition of several more raised beds.

  • Yes, each year in April we offer a Basic Gardening Workshop and an Organic Gardening Workshop.
  • These programs are held at the Knoch Knolls Nature Center and are free, but registration is required.
  • Video recordings of both of these workshops can be found here - https://www.napervilleparks.org/gardenplots - under the Gardening Resources section.
  • Yes, in recent years the information below has been added to the website:Video recordings of our two gardening workshops – Basic and Organic.
    • Vegetable family characteristics
    • Vegetable planting times and hardiness
    • Local soil temperatures
    • Ideal Seed Germination temperatures
    • National Weather Service climate data
  • Additional information/links will be provided in the Gardening Resources section - https://www.napervilleparks.org/gardenplots
  • Plus, there is a wealth of information online in general to help you garden.

Additional pollinator gardens are proposed within the Site Master Plan that draw in pollinators that will benefit your plants as well.

Yes, honeybees have been added this summer to the hives located at the west-end of the organic gardening section.