City/State: Denver, Colorado
In Summer 2022, The Residences at Market Station (“Market Station”), a multifamily community in Denver, Colorado, started a new urban garden for its community members. The partnership (Clarion Partners and Continuum) decided to work with a community garden operator to start a resident-supported green amenity at the community.
The partnership reached out to Denver Urban Gardens, the largest independent network of food-producing community gardens in the country, who helped provide the necessary supplies to kickstart the program. Denver Urban Gardens operates over 190 urban gardens, with Market Station representing their first and only community garden among apartment complexes in the Denver metro area.
In June, over 100 employees of a popular local restaurant operator, Snooze, helped plant the initial crop of seasonal herbs and vegetables at Market Station as part of a company-wide scavenger hunt. Afterward, the 16 planter beds, located on the mezzanine clubroom level, were fully maintained by residents of the community, with select residents chosen as “garden leaders” to coordinate all planting, upkeep, and harvesting activities. Any unclaimed harvest was donated to the Food Bank of the Rockies.
The community garden at The Residences at Market Station has fostered collaboration and sustenance among residents, staff, and the broader community. Although all gardening activities were put on hold during the winter, the residents prepared the garden for another harvest the following spring.
