Burlington muralist Gina Carrera has been busy lately planting flowers and crops . . . on the large brick south wall of 183 South Champlain Street. The apartment building overlooks a small lot containing playground equipment and raised-bed gardens belonging to the nearby King Street Youth Center. The so-called Champlain Park is part of the Burlington Parks & Rec system. Now it’s home to a food-growing, art-making project with an ulterior motive: to reclaim the area from drug users who reportedly frequent it by night. (Paraphernalia were literally unearthed there recently.) KSYC’s vision is to transform the site “into a lush demonstration of urban sustainability and community-building,” according to a flyer announcing a “community work party” last May. The center hopes to share garden space with neighbors interested in getting their hands dirty and cleaning up the ’hood. For more info, or to offer help, call 363-4604.
This article appears in Aug 6-12, 2008.
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