Duarte residents will soon have a new space to grow fresh produce, connect with neighbors, and enjoy the outdoors. Last month, the Duarte City Council approved the development of the Duarte Community Garden at Tzeitel Paras-Caracci Park (2701 Royal Oaks Drive).
“This project exemplifies our dedication to creating sustainable, accessible spaces for our residents,” said Mayor Cesar A. Garcia. “This garden will not only enhance the beauty of our park but also provide a space where our community can come together, learn, and share in the joy of nature. I am excited to see this project grow and look forward to it becoming a vibrant part of our community.”
The goal of the Duarte Community Garden is to increase food sovereignty by creating garden plots for community members to grow healthy food, cultivate agricultural literacy with educational programs, gather community by creating a welcoming and accessible garden space, and perform ecosystem services by removing grass, installing a sustainable drip irrigation system, building a native habitat garden, and collecting compost.
The garden will feature 20 plots and two ADA-accessible raised beds, available for rent at $5 per month. Community members can plant edible (excluding smokable) plants and flowers for personal, noncommercial use. It will include a storage shed with garden tools, an irrigation system promoting sustainable practices, and ADA-accessible decomposed granite pathways.
The garden will be run in partnership with Food Exploration and Discovery (Food Ed), a nonprofit organization that collaborates with San Gabriel Valley communities to create edible education sites and provide programs on ecosystem stewardship, healthy living, environmental innovation, and entrepreneurship.
Food Ed’s educational model will support gardeners of all skill levels, providing supplies and plants for beginners while experienced gardeners can use their own resources. The garden will also offer picnic benches for community gatherings and host educational programs on topics like vegetable gardening, composting, drought-tolerant landscaping, and soil health.
As the lead on this grant project, Food Ed will be responsible for building the Duarte Community Garden. This includes overseeing site construction, collecting infrastructure bids, contractor management, program management, community engagement and workshops/events, processing plot holder applications, plant and soil replenishment, above ground irrigation repairs, developing the garden’s webpage and branding and overall garden management through October of 2026.
For more information on the Duarte Community Garden, contact the Parks and Recreation Department at (626) 357-7931.
