Community Gardens

Community gardens offer space for fresh produce

The City offers 101 plots for rent in three community gardens in Albert Lea (see map at left):

• Brookside Park Garden (70 – 20 x 20’ plots)
• Spark Avenue Garden (11 – 20 x 24’ plots)
• Margaretha Avenue Garden (20 – 20’ x 20’ plots)

Each plot costs $20 for city residents and $25 for people outside the city with water available at each site.

Renters are limited to two garden spots per season.

The Parks Department will till the gardens in the spring once weather allows, generally late April or early May. Gardeners are then welcome to plant their produce and flowers. All garden produce must be removed by Oct.15. After that date, the Parks Department will once again till the gardens. Anything that is left behind will be discarded.

As a Blue Zones community, the City works to make healthy choices easier for everyone in Albert Lea. Community gardens offer a chance to grow fresh, affordable produce while increasing biodiversity, creating habitat, filtering air and buffering sound. They also provide gathering places for people of all backgrounds.