Kirkland Parks Foundation has announced a collaboration with Seattle Tilth to raise funds to build a new Learning Garden at McAuliffe Park in Kirkland.
The Learning Garden is the first phase of a broader agreement between the city of Kirkland and Seattle Tilth to develop McAuliffe Park into an urban farm. The agreement was approved in November 2014 in which Seattle Tilth will provide programs and activities that provide hands-on education programs such as Master Recycling Composter training, organic gardening courses, cooking and nutrition programming, urban farming and connections with Edible Kirkland and Kirkland Nourishing Networks programs.
“We are very pleased to have Seattle Tilth as our partner with their reputation and expertise,” said Kirkland Director of Parks & Community Services Jennifer Schroder. “McAuliffe Park is a unique property and provides an incredible opportunity to create a fully functioning urban farm that will have far-reaching benefits for our community.”
The total cost to construct the Learning Garden is $15,980 and includes items such as a drip irrigation system, machinery, trellis materials, wheelbarrows, gardening tools, wood for raised beds, labor, etc. The Kirkland Park Foundation is committed to raising $7,800 of funds needed for the project.
Donations can be made on the Kirkland Parks Foundation website at www.kirklandparksfoundation.org/projects/learning-garden-at-mcauliffe-park/; mailing a check payable to the ‘Kirkland Park Foundation’ to 603 4th Avenue, Suite 500, Kirkland, WA 98033; or by calling the Kirkland Parks Foundation at (425) 298-4046.
Contributions of any dollar amount to this project are welcome and are tax-deductible. Donations of $250 or more will be recognized on a signage displayed on the Learning Garden and will be grouped at levels of $250, $500 and $1,000.
McAuliffe Park is the site of one of Kirkland’s oldest homesteads and was established as a farm in 1877. The City purchased it in 2001 and at that time it was being run as family-owned nursery and landscape business. The property is 13 separate parcels and is almost 12 acres located on the northeast corner of Northeast 116th Street and 108th Avenue Northeast in the South Juanita neighborhood.
