31 Oct Community Garden in Boca Raton to be Renamed
The Boca Raton Community Garden
The Junior League of Boca Raton (JLBR) has announced the re-dedication of its Community Garden in Boca Raton’s Meadows Park in honor of beloved Boca Raton Mayor Susan Whelchel. A ribbon-cutting ceremony will be held on Saturday, Oct. 28 at 10:30 a.m. with a celebration paying tribute to the late Mayor.
Susan Whelchel was elected to the City Council in 1995 and later served two terms as Mayor of Boca Raton (2008-2014.) Whelchel, a longtime Junior League of Boca Raton member, was named ‘Woman Volunteer of the Year’ in 2016 for all of her hard work and dedication in the Boca Raton Community, including her guidance in the donation of the Community Garden by the City of Boca Raton, which took place on Earth Day in 2010.
“The entire City Council enthusiastically supports this re-dedication,” said Boca Raton Mayor Scott Singer. “The Susan Whelchel Community Gardens is so aptly named, given the unity between her service to the Junior League and her service to this great city.”
The Community Garden consists of 100 plots filled with produce, fruits, butterflies, and flowers. It fosters environmental sustainability and stewardship while providing nutritional education and a healthy supplemental food source for its gardeners and the hungry. The Junior League maintains the garden while the City of Boca Raton provides the land and water, a partnership created by the late Mayor.
Registered dietitian and JLBR member Brandi Hyatt chairs the Community Garden project on behalf of JLBR. “I am so grateful for Mayor Whelchel’s dedication, providing a foundation for the community to cultivate a space that grows not only nourishment for the hungry but nourishment for the soul through the peaceful effects of gardening,” said Hyatt.
Mayor Scott Singer, along with several of Mayor Whelchel’s family members will be on hand for the event and share stories of her love for the Community Garden.
Light refreshments will be served. RSVP is required to garden@jlbr.org.
The Community Garden is located at Meadows Park, 1300 NW 8th St, Boca Raton, FL 33486. The garden hours are Monday-Sunday from 8:00 a.m. to sunset.
About the Junior League of Boca Raton
The Junior League’s focus areas are Child Welfare and Community Support.
Throughout the year, JLBR members will contribute more than 35,000 volunteer hours and donate more than $250,000 to support our mission of training volunteers, developing the potential of women and improving the South Florida community. To learn more about the JLBR, please contact the JLBR office at 561-620-2553 or visit www.JLBR.org. Connect with us on facebook.com/
