Nothing is quite as satisfying as planting seeds and seeing nature's blessing emerge through the soil - except possibly eating the harvest! People who like to garden but don't have much space may want to sign up for one of the District's garden plots. Full sized plots are 29 X 18 feet and half size plots are 14.5 X 18 feet (approximately). We provide a limited number of watering spigots. Hand-held watering containers will be needed; no hoses are allowed. Plant and seed purchases are the responsibility of each gardener.

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Ron Ory Community Garden Plot Guidelines
Updated guidelines brochure will be available soon

Please remember the following as you begin to prepare for planting.

• Garden plots are identified with a numbered wooden stake placed in the center of each plot. Four corner flags also mark each plot; adjoining plots will have common flags. Full size plots will be marked with a number and a single letter; half size plots are marked with a number and a double letter. Please do not remove the stake or the flags.
• Before planting, check and make sure you are in the correct plot. You may mark the boundaries of your plot but you may not extend your plot beyond the designated boundary lines. The Park District is not responsible for costs incurred for replanting
• While the Park District tills the soil at the beginning of the season, gardeners may need to till again just prior to planting.

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2019 Garden Plot Registration Dates

Please note that Garden Plots are NOT available for online registration

Registration Location - 2nd floor of the Alfred Rubin Riverwalk Community Center at 305 W. Jackson Ave, Naperville, IL 60540, Monday - Friday from 8:30 am – 5:00 pm.

Registration form will be available soon

 

Feb. 4 – Feb. 22 – Priority Registration for Returning Gardeners (weekdays only)
All gardeners in good standing will receive an email with details about Priority Registration towards the end of January. Returning gardeners will be limited to one plot during priority registration.

Feb. 25 – Transfers Begin for Gardeners That Registered During Priority Registration 
Priority gardeners can switch to a different plot once they have registered for last year's plot. Garden plots may also be transferred to another family member in your household at this time. Transfers must be done in person at the Alfred Rubin Riverwalk Community Center at 305 W. Jackson Ave, 2nd floor.

Mar. 18 – Open Registration for Naperville Park District Residents
Registration must be done in person at Alfred Rubin Riverwalk Community Center at 305 W. Jackson Ave, 2nd floor.

Mar. 21 – Open Registration for Nonresidents and Resident Gardeners Requesting a Second Plot
Registration must be done in person at Alfred Rubin Riverwalk Community Center at 305 W. Jackson Ave, 2nd floor.

For questions about the garden plots, call 630-848-3615.

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GARDEN PLOT SIZE 

Full Plot, 29’ x 18’
Half Plot, 14.5’ x 18’
Raised Plot, 20’ x 4’ (requires doctor’s note)
Garden Plot Map

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2019 GARDEN PLOT FEES 

Full Size Plot – Resident - $48
Full Size Plot – Non-Resident - $69
Full Size Plot – Resident Senior - $33
Full Size Plot – Non-Resident Senior - $57
 
Half Size Plot – Resident - $28
Half Size Plot - Non-Resident - $39
Half Size Plot - Resident Senior - $22
Half Size Plot – Non-Resident Senior - $32
 
Raised Plot (ADA Accessible) – Resident - $26
Raised Plot (ADA Accessible) – Non-Resident - $38
Raised Plot (ADA Accessible) – Resident Senior - $21
Raised Plot (ADA Accessible) – Non-Resident Senior - $31

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Ron Ory Community Garden Plots Hosted the Park District’s First Honeybee Hives Last Spring
The honeybees have arrived! The queens and her workers took up residence on April 22 in the three hives built just for them in the District’s Garden Plots. They will be busy this summer pollinating the plants in the Garden Plots and surrounding areas. Most fruits and vegetables you harvest from your garden are provided courtesy of bees. One-third of crops we eat in the U.S. are pollinated by honeybees, the wasp’s less aggressive cousin. Unfortunately, since 2006, billions of honeybees have died worldwide. Scientists don’t know exactly why it’s happening but suspect that a combination of viruses, parasites, pesticides, habitat loss and stress may all be factors. Colony Collapse Disorder, or CCD, has scientists, farmers and even economists very concerned. By adding three honeybee hives to the Garden Plots we’re increasing the local bee population and helping to ensure that your garden has enough pollinators to keep blooming all season long!
 

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Garden Plot Natural Areas Demonstration Gardens

BACKGROUND:  Over the past several years, the Central Maintenance Division of the Parks Department, in conjunction with the expertise of trained volunteers and interested individuals or groups, like the Boy Scouts, have converted several outdoor areas into demonstration gardens. These natural areas cover approximately one acre of land that was unused, undeveloped or had been a gravel parking lot. The gardens highlight the native plants found in Illinois’ prairies, wetlands, woodlands and savannas. Specialty gardens include a sensory garden, rain garden, monarch waystation and other pollinator gardens, fruit tree gardens and a tree nursery. These demonstration gardens help fulfill the District’s desire “to teach life skills” and serve as a respite for tired Park District users. The trained volunteers, who are certified as Master Gardeners and/or Master Naturalists, by the Extension Office of the University of Illinois, continue to provide their time and efforts to expand and maintain these natural areas.

The OUTDOOR NATURAL AREAS include these elements, starting from West Street entrance.

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A POLLINATOR GARDEN funded by a grant obtained by the Park District.

A SMALL-FRUIT GARDEN of trees and vines extends south
of the Pollinator Garden through the center of the parking lot.

 

The IDEA GARDENS include a Prairie Garden, a Sensory Garden, a Sedge Meadow, a Rain Garden, a Savanna, a Native Perennial Seeding Area and a picnic area with a labyrinth. Behind the lattice panels is a prototype tree nursery of oak saplings.
  

  

The IDEA GARDENS include easy-to-maintain native plants and provide interpretive signs with additional information.  Sections of the garden have been certified by the Conservation@Work/Home Program and as a Monarch Waystation.
To find out more about the Conservation@Home program, visit: http://www.theconservationfoundation.org/page.php?PageID=82

To find out more about Monarch Waystations, visit: https://monarchwatch.org/waystations/

      

 

 

 

 

Four GARDEN PLOTS, which are tended by Master Gardeners, donate produce to a local food pantry, along with any excess produce from other gardeners’ plots.

 

 

 

 

A FRUIT TREE GUILD was planted and is maintained by the Resiliency Institute. To learn more about permaculture and fruit tree guilds, visit: http://www.theresiliencyinstitute.net/grow/plant-fruit-tree-guild/

The Master Gardeners’ Vegetable Plots and the Fruit Tree Guild are located south of the Idea Gardens.

A WOODLAND GARDEN of approximately 70 species (mostly native to the area) of trees and shrubs.  The woody plants are small to provide the best chance to survive and were installed by volunteers in 2018. The Woodland Garden also emphasizes plants that are easy-to-maintain natives along with identification signs for additional information.
  

A TREE NURSERY, located south of the Woodland Garden, is an extension of the Woodland Garden and contains larger species that will be transplanted to area parks, when of sufficient size. The Tree Nursery, like many of the elements of this restored natural area, was installed by volunteers.
  

All of these gardens can be visited during normal park hours. You can observe and learn about vegetable and fruit, perennial and annual plants that grow well in this climate. Native plants demand less water and chemicals to grow and remain healthy.

If you have further questions about the honey bees at the Garden Plots, please contact Beth Myers at 630-848-5038. 

Benefits of Community Gardening
Did you know that community gardening has multiple benefits that are felt and seen not only by the gardeners themselves, but that are enjoyed by an entire community? The primary benefits of community gardening include:
- Municipal Costs
- Pocket Parks
- Exercise
- Improved Diets
- Food Production
- Youth Education
- Cultural Opportunities
- Horticultural Therapy
- Crime Prevention

If you'd like to learn more, click here to read some excerpts taken from a document titled, "The Multiple Benefits of Community Gardening." This information is being used with written consent from Gardening Matters in Minneapolis, MN

Follow the Ron Ory Community Garden Plots on Facebook!
We have a Facebook group for our Garden Plots participants and we’d like you to join us.

Garden Plots Project Historical Information
Click Here for historical information regarding the West Street Garden Plots project and previously proposed DuPage River Park location.

Where are the Ron Ory Community Garden Plots Located
Naperville Park District Garden Plots 811 S. West Street, Naperville 630.848.5000