Community Corner

What Should Go Here: Wetlands

This grassy swath of land near Landmark Elementary is being eyed for a community garden.

Two great uses of open space are protecting it from development and building community gardens.

Both are visible throughout Watsonville and, right now, there is a heated debate going on in certain circles about how to use this plot of land off Ohlone Parkway, near .

The city is planning a garden, while an opposition group is trying to mount a legal defense of the land.

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In Watsonville, hundreds of acres of wetlands have been preserved and turned into a haven for bird watchers, dog walkers and joggers. School children take field trips there to learn about frogs and what a native plant is.

Community gardens also flourish here. Schools utilize them, like this one at , and a there is . In a town where hundreds of families turn to organizations like  to meet their nutritional needs, there is value in teaching people to grow their own food.

Find out what's happening in Watsonvillewith free, real-time updates from Patch.

 for a variety of reasons, such as the environmental impact and safety of children using the facility, because of the lack of sidewalks.

In past weeks, Patch readers have given impassioned feedback on , and .

So tell us, what do you think should happen with this patch of overgrown grass and wildflowers that? Get creative with solutions for this neighborhood issue, and tell us in comments.


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