Children’s garden planted at Uptown Family Park
Beds planted with fruits, vegetables and flowers 
–Located behind the Uptown Family Park and the Library Study Center on 36th and Oak Streets, lies a children’s garden cared for by children and staff from the study center, First Five Preschool and Georgia Browns’ Head Start Program. The garden was constructed as a component of the Uptown Family Park, a project completed in 2014 courtesy of a $2.5 million state grant.
Six raised beds were recently planted with an assortment of fruits, vegetables and flowers with the assistance of Tom Taylor, a well known community volunteer who has initiated several garden projects for local school children.
“The garden is a great learning tool,” explained Taylor, “and the kids love it.” The gardening project is in keeping with the outdoor classroom design of the entire park, and a point of pride to neighborhood families. “We are hoping to make the garden a family affair with help from parent volunteers who can work with us in the garden,” said Marilu Gomez, school readiness site coordinator for the Paso Robles Joint Unified School District.
“I am excited to work with Marilu and the rest of our neighbors to make this garden a fun place for the children to explore and learn,” said Melissa Bailey, lead staff of the Library Study Center. “This collaboration will continue into the summer and allow the children to reap what we sow over the hot summer months.”
“The flowers are out and the strawberries are almost ready,” said young gardener Jennifer Sanchez. Sanchez, like her friends at the study center, is anxious for the berries to ripen, “I can’t wait to try one of our strawberries!”
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