Nothing is quite as satisfying as digging in the dirt, planting seeds and seeing your hard work work pay off with a bounty of beautiful fruits, vegetables and flowers! People who like to garden but don't have much space may want to sign up for one of the District's garden plots.

• Full sized plots are 29 X 18 feet and half size plots are 14.5 X 18 feet (approximately).

• We provide a limited number of watering spigots. Hand-held watering containers will be needed; no hoses are allowed.

• Plant and seed purchases are the responsibility of each gardener.

The Garden Plots are currently closed for the season.

The 2020 gardening season will begin in mid-April, weather and soil conditions permitting. 

• Here's how to find out about closures and limited access days:
  • The Naperville Park District’s Weather Cancellations & Facility Closures  Rainout Line
    • Call 630-883-4242 or visit https://www.napervilleparks.org/cancellations  
    • Sign up for Email and Text alerts!         
  • Naperville Park District Garden Plots Facebook page
    •     https://www.facebook.com/Naperville-Park-District-Garden-Plots-13749548965712

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Ron Ory Community Garden Plot Guidelines

• 2020 Garden Plot Guidelines (available soon)
• Garden Plot FAQs

Please remember the following as you begin to prepare for planting.

• Garden plots are identified with a numbered wooden stake placed in the center of each plot. Four corner flags also mark each plot; adjoining plots will have common flags. Full size plots will be marked with a number and a single letter; half size plots are marked with a number and a double letter. Please do not remove the stake or the flags.
• Before planting, check and make sure you are in the correct plot. You may mark the boundaries of your plot but you may not extend your plot beyond the designated boundary lines. The Park District is not responsible for costs incurred for replanting
• While the Park District tills the soil at the beginning of the season, gardeners may need to till again just prior to planting.

2020 Garden Plot Registration 

• Priority Registration will take place towards the end of Februrary. Gardeners in good standing will receive an email with all the information needed to register. 

• Open Registration for Residents begins Monday, March 16 at 8:30 am.

• Open Registration for Non-residents begins Thursday, March 19 at 8:30 am

• Registration location: 305 W. Jackson Ave, 2nd floor, Monday - Friday, 8:30 am - 5 pm.

• REQUIRED FORMS:
  • Registration Form
  • 2020 Agreement form (available by the end of February)

For questions about the garden plots, call 630-848-3615.

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GARDEN PLOT SIZE 

Full Plot, 29’ x 18’
Half Plot, 14.5’ x 18’
Raised Plot, 20’ x 4’ (requires doctor’s note)
Garden Plot Map

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2020 GARDEN PLOT FEES 

Full Size Plot – Resident - $49
Full Size Plot – Non-Resident - $70
Full Size Plot – Resident Senior - $34
Full Size Plot – Non-Resident Senior - $58
 
Half Size Plot – Resident - $29
Half Size Plot - Non-Resident - $40
Half Size Plot - Resident Senior - $23
Half Size Plot – Non-Resident Senior - $33
 
Raised Plot (ADA Accessible) – Resident - $27
Raised Plot (ADA Accessible) – Non-Resident - $39
Raised Plot (ADA Accessible) – Resident Senior - $22
Raised Plot (ADA Accessible) – Non-Resident Senior - $32

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Follow the Ron Ory Community Garden Plots on Facebook!
We have a Facebook group for our Garden Plots participants and we’d like you to join us.

Where are the Ron Ory Community Garden Plots Located
Naperville Park District Garden Plots 811 S. West Street, Naperville 630.848.5000

 

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WHAT ELSE IS AT THE GARDEN PLOTS?

Garden Plot Natural Areas Demonstration Gardens

BACKGROUND:  Over the past several years, the Central Maintenance Division of the Parks Department, in conjunction with the expertise of trained volunteers and interested individuals or groups, like the Boy Scouts, have converted several outdoor areas into demonstration gardens. These natural areas cover approximately one acre of land that was unused, undeveloped or had been a gravel parking lot. The gardens highlight the native plants found in Illinois’ prairies, wetlands, woodlands and savannas. Specialty gardens include a sensory garden, rain garden, monarch waystation and other pollinator gardens, fruit tree gardens and a tree nursery. These demonstration gardens help fulfill the District’s desire “to teach life skills” and serve as a respite for tired Park District users. The trained volunteers, who are certified as Master Gardeners and/or Master Naturalists, by the Extension Office of the University of Illinois, continue to provide their time and efforts to expand and maintain these natural areas.

The OUTDOOR NATURAL AREAS include these elements, starting from West Street entrance.

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A POLLINATOR GARDEN funded by a grant obtained by the Park District.

A SMALL-FRUIT GARDEN of trees and vines extends south
of the Pollinator Garden through the center of the parking lot.

 

The IDEA GARDENS include a Prairie Garden, a Sensory Garden, a Sedge Meadow, a Rain Garden, a Savanna, a Native Perennial Seeding Area and a picnic area with a labyrinth. Behind the lattice panels is a prototype tree nursery of oak saplings.
  

  

The IDEA GARDENS include easy-to-maintain native plants and provide interpretive signs with additional information.  Sections of the garden have been certified by the Conservation@Work/Home Program and as a Monarch Waystation.
To find out more about the Conservation@Home program, visit: http://www.theconservationfoundation.org/page.php?PageID=82

To find out more about Monarch Waystations, visit: https://monarchwatch.org/waystations/

      

 

 

 

 

Four GARDEN PLOTS, which are tended by Master Gardeners, donate produce to a local food pantry, along with any excess produce from other gardeners’ plots.

 

 

 

 

A FRUIT TREE GUILD was planted and is maintained by the Resiliency Institute. To learn more about permaculture and fruit tree guilds, visit: http://www.theresiliencyinstitute.net/grow/plant-fruit-tree-guild/

The Master Gardeners’ Vegetable Plots and the Fruit Tree Guild are located south of the Idea Gardens.

A WOODLAND GARDEN of approximately 70 species (mostly native to the area) of trees and shrubs.  The woody plants are small to provide the best chance to survive and were installed by volunteers in 2018. The Woodland Garden also emphasizes plants that are easy-to-maintain natives along with identification signs for additional information.
  

A TREE NURSERY, located south of the Woodland Garden, is an extension of the Woodland Garden and contains larger species that will be transplanted to area parks, when of sufficient size. The Tree Nursery, like many of the elements of this restored natural area, was installed by volunteers.
  

All of these gardens can be visited during normal park hours. You can observe and learn about vegetable and fruit, perennial and annual plants that grow well in this climate. Native plants demand less water and chemicals to grow and remain healthy.

If you have further questions about the honey bees at the Garden Plots, please contact Beth Myers at 630-848-5038. 

Benefits of Community Gardening
Did you know that community gardening has multiple benefits that are felt and seen not only by the gardeners themselves, but that are enjoyed by an entire community? The primary benefits of community gardening include:
- Municipal Costs
- Pocket Parks
- Exercise
- Improved Diets
- Food Production
- Youth Education
- Cultural Opportunities
- Horticultural Therapy
- Crime Prevention