Create Your own Urban Garden

The Garden Lease Program allows residents to lease Land Reutilization Authority lots for $1.00.

May 5, 2013 | 2 min reading time

This article is 11 years old. It was published on May 5, 2013.

Urban-Garden

Do you enjoy wandering the open air markets like Soulard and breathing in the sweet, earthy aromas of herbs, fruits and vegetables? Summer is the perfect time for fresh produce and while trips to the markets make for an enjoyable afternoon, many residents are joining the growing trend of planting their own urban gardens. Not only cost effective, urban gardens bring community together, encourage children to learn about healthy foods and create a vibrant landscape in the neighborhood. 

The Land Reutilization Authority (LRA) is offering residents the opportunity to lease vacant lots through their Garden Lease Program for only $1 per year.  The lots are available to individuals, neighborhood associations and to community organizations. The garden lease allows you site control so that you can add a fence to prevent foot traffic, build your urban garden or just enjoy the extra space.  In return, you are responsible for all maintenance. 

Each lease request is reviewed by LRA staff to ensure that the reuse is consistent with that particular neighborhood's strategic plan and that no redevelopment for the lot is imminent. Depending on the submitted reuse, you may be required to carry insurance.

To apply for the Garden Lease program:
Land Reutilization Authority of the City of St. Louis
1520 Market St., Suite 2000
St. Louis, MO 63103
Attention: Wyvonia Warfield, Maintenance Coordinator

Over 500 LRA lots are leased right now throughout the city and since the start of the Garden Lease Program in 1994, thousands of vacant lots have been converted to varied and creative reuses that help beautify the city. What will you create?

You can look for available vacant lots using the LRA Property Lookup.

Related Links:

Documents

Gateway Greening
Gateway Greening educates and empowers people to strengthen their communities through gardening and urban agriculture.

MU Missouri Extension
MU Extension is Missouri's one-stop source for practical education on almost anything.

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