Kingston East Community Garden

Consultation has concluded.

A series of vegetable garden beds with people planting and harvesting. Text says, "Community gardens."

The Kingston Community Garden Network was established by the City of Kingston in collaboration with partner groups to support the creation of new community gardens on public or private lands, and to assist with the retention of existing community gardens in the city. The current network of community gardens includes space for allotment plots (your own personal garden plot), tasting gardens, donation gardens, and training gardens. In accordance with the City’s Community Gardens Policy, public engagement is required prior to a permit being issued.

Before offering feedback, please consider reviewing the City's Community Garden Policy.

What is a community

A series of vegetable garden beds with people planting and harvesting. Text says, "Community gardens."

The Kingston Community Garden Network was established by the City of Kingston in collaboration with partner groups to support the creation of new community gardens on public or private lands, and to assist with the retention of existing community gardens in the city. The current network of community gardens includes space for allotment plots (your own personal garden plot), tasting gardens, donation gardens, and training gardens. In accordance with the City’s Community Gardens Policy, public engagement is required prior to a permit being issued.

Before offering feedback, please consider reviewing the City's Community Garden Policy.

What is a community garden?

Community gardens provide a shared space for a group of residents or a community organization to grow and harvest produce, flowers or native plants. The City accepts applications for community gardens to be built on municipally-owned lands to help residents and local non-profits establish community-led garden projects in parks and greenspaces.

Community gardens create a healthier, more livable community by helping residents grow food and build relationships with neighbours. Community gardens are open to all residents and are guided by the following principles:

  • Walkable – Used and enjoyed by those who live in the community.
  • Inclusive – Welcoming gathering space open to everyone.
  • Community-led – Designed for the community, by the community.

Project background

During the construction of the Kingston East Community Centre, City staff were approached by members of the community and local non-profits asking if land could be set aside for the development of a community garden. It was determined that the greenspace on the east side of the building would be a suitable location for a community garden.

The creation of the garden will begin in the summer with the installation of three raised beds.

The garden has been sponsored by Mike Lee Desjardins Insurance and will be named the Mike Lee Desjardins Insurance Community Garden.

The proposed garden will be located northeast of the Kingston East Community Centre in a grassed area east of the road leading to Grenadier Drive. The three raised garden beds will be 16 ft by 4 ft, with four feet between each bed to allow space for planting and harvesting. A pathway will be built in the centre of the garden area, with three more raised beds on the other side to be added in the future.

Volunteers needed

Once established, the garden will be community-led! The City is looking for community members interested in overseeing the operations of the community garden.

Those interested can provide their contact information through the survey.

We want to hear from you!

You are invited to take part in the public engagement process on the development of the Mike Lee Desjardins Insurance Community Garden located at the Kingston East Community Centre. The objective of this engagement is to:

  • Provide background information on the benefits of community gardens and operations.
  • Let residents know how they can participate in the establishment of and become a member of the community garden.
  • Recruit a volunteer garden coordinator.
  • Provide residents with an opportunity to ask questions and voice their support for or concerns about the community garden.

Have your say

  • Before July 7, complete a brief survey to share feedback.
  • To complete the survey by phone or to request a paper copy, call 613-546-0000.

Consultation has concluded.

  • Engagement Summary

    Kingston East Community Garden Public Engagement Summary 

    Why we engaged 

    The City of Kingston, in collaboration with partners, established the Community Garden Network to create and maintain public and private community gardens. The network includes various garden types, and public engagement is required for permit issuance under the city's policy. We provided background information on the benefits of community gardens and operations and wanted to raise awareness on how to participate in the community garden as well as the opportunity to ask questions or voice support/concerns about the garden.

    How we engaged 

    • A survey was published on Get Involved Kingston for community members interested in overseeing the operations of the community garden. The survey was open June 20 – July 7 and promoted through social media and the Get Involved Kingston newsletter.

    • A Curbex sign was displayed from June 21 – July 12.

    Who we heard from 

    • 11 engaged participants completed surveys 

    • 254 aware participants visited the project page 

    • 2 participants created a new Get Involved Kingston account 

    Next steps

    The Garden was installed in summer 2023 with signage recognizing it as the Mike Lee Desjardins Insurance Community Garden, located at the Kingston East Community Centre.

    What we heard 

    Q. 4 The community garden at Kingston East Community Centre requires a volunteer community garden coordinator and volunteers to operate the garden. Are you interested in volunteering?


    Green and yellow pie chart illustrating that 2 survey participants are interested in volunteering, 7 are not and 2 are currently undecided. Those who indicated interest were asked to share their contact information.

    Verbatim feedback

    The following are a list of comments submitted by registered Get Involved Kingston participants. Feedback that did not follow the City of Kingston's Guidelines for Participation were omitted from the feedback.   

    Question 1: Do you have feedback specific to the proposed community garden at the Kingston East Community Centre?

    1. “What is your water source”

    2. “Community gardens are, IMHO, a great idea and great use of public space. Having said that, they can fall victim to lack of attention if those using them are not reasonably committed and care for them. As such, policies of some sort should be in place to avoid gardens from becoming an eye sore, keep one from interfering with the use of others, or a magnet for pests.”

    3. “Don't let it become a public property eyesore.”

    4. “Why is it so small and tiny raised beds? You could do so much more with that space. There is a lot of grass there and if the city would simply pay for soil sampling it would be easy to make more plots in the ground and get more people involved. With such a small space it becomes hard to find volunteers to keep the project going.”

    5. “Emails would be nice as to when I can drop off yard waste”

    6. “Mil, but it’s a good imitative”

    7. “Yes, 1 raised bed, two in ground”

    8. “Like the idea”

    9. “I am skeptical of community gardens that don't come from the community - the description here suggests there is not adequate community engagement for a garden.”

    Question 2: In accordance with Ontario Regulation 191/11, please provide any accessibility feedback for the proposed community garden.

    1. “Those raised beds look great for accessibility, every garden should have some but should not be only raised beds.”

    2. “As above”

    3. “Would be great”

    4. “Especially around a community centre, garden developers must ensure wide paths with suitable surfaces; ample available parking and WATER - many of the community gardens in this city do not have access to water - procuring that water may be an accessibility issue for people with mobility issues”