S. Side garden to help children

The garden is for neighborhood children and families to enjoy.
By KATIE LIBECCO
VINDICATOR STAFF WRITER
YOUNGSTOWN -- The Southside Community Development Corp. hosted the grand opening of a children's garden Friday at Renaissance Park.
The Youth Oriented United Neighborhood Garden is adjacent to Oak Hill Renaissance Place on Werner and Ridge roads. It will give children on the South Side a positive place to spend time with their friends and families this summer.
The garden was created by SCDC with a $60,000 block grant from the Youngstown Community Development Agency.
The grant went to clearing debris and preparing the land after four houses had been partially demolished several years ago, said Nicole Campbell, a senior at Youngstown State University, who is guiding the project.
The garden is available for any child on the South Side to use for growing both vegetables and flowers.
YOUNG is aimed at encouraging the neighborhood's young people to understand gardening, farming and the importance of healthy eating.
"It was created to give the community something to come together and do, especially for the kids," said Campbell. "There's not a lot for them to do in the summer, so this gives them a positive outlet."
Jubilee Gardens, YSU Department of Biology, The Ohio State University Extension Service, the Ohio Farm Bureau and Youngstown Master Gardeners were involved in the development of YOUNG.
For more information, contact Campbell at (330) 740-6691 ext. 7319.