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Health & Fitness

Lake Forest Community Garden Park One step closer

Hello to all the supporters of the Lake Forest Community Garden Park. Here is the latest update of the progress to have the Lake Forest Community Garden Park developed at the park site commonly known as the Whispering Hills site on Lake Forest Drive at Forest Ridge Drive.

The Lake Forest Community Garden Park was placed in the City of Lake Forest 5-year strategic plan in the July 2013 City Council meeting by a unanimous 5-0 vote. There were two other alternative projects proposed for the Whispering Hills site, a soccer arena with an estimated cost of $5 million dollars to the residents of Lake Forest, a Dog Park and the Lake Forest Community Garden Park.

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During the last few meetings of the Lake Forest Parks and Recreation Commission the discussion has been the type and location of a dog park in Lake Forest. At the October 17, 2013 meeting of the Parks and Recreation Commission it was decided that a dog section in an existing park was not the best course of action, but rather a long-term perspective of a site away from residential areas to minimize the negative impacts. During the meeting it was indicated by the Commissioners that the Whispering Hills park site was not a viable dog park site due to the same negative impacts to adjacent residential development that would occur at all other park sites. This appears to take the Dog Park alternative off the table for the Whispering Hills site.

That leaves two alternatives for the Whispering Hills Park site, a soccer arena and the Lake Forest Community Garden Concept. At this point the supporters of the Lake Forest Community Garden Park are having difficulty forming a 501 (c) 3 non-profit corporation since the site has not be designated by the City of Lake Forest for the Community Garden Park. We cannot apply for grants or receive taxable deductible donations until the site has been designated by the City Council.  In addition we are having difficulty getting planning assistance since the Community Garden Park has not been approved by the City Council.

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Our next effort is to have those interested in the Lake Forest Community Garden Park attend the November 19, 2013 Lake Forest City Council meeting.  Once the Whispering Hills park site is approved for the site we can move forward with preliminary planning, cost estimates, formation of a non-profit to seek grants and donations. It’s a long process.

We are one step closer to realizing the dream of a Community Garden Park at the Whispering Hills Park site. Let’s keep working toward the goal for the benefit of the Lake Forest community.

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