Ron Ory Community Garden Plots
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.
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Full sized plots are 29 X 18 feet and half size plots are 14.5 X 18 feet (approximately).
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We provide a limited number of watering spigots. Hand-held watering containers will be needed; no hoses are allowed.
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Purchase of plants, seeds and tools are the responsibility of each gardener.
Where are the Garden Plots Located?
811 S. West Street, Naperville, IL 50540
The Garden Plots are currently closed for the season.
The 2020 gardening season will begin in mid-April, weather and soil conditions permitting.
2020 Garden Plot Registration Dates:
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Due to the closing of Naperville Park District customer service facilities, garden plot registrations for nonresidents and second plot registration for residents have been rescheduled to Thursday, April 9th beginning at 8:30am.
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Residents can resume registration once customer service offices reopen Thursday April 9 as well.
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Registration will take place in person only at the Alfred Rubin Community Center located at 305 W. Jackson.
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Please continue to check back for further updates.
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REQUIRED FORMS:
Ron Ory Community Garden Plot Guidelines
For questions about the garden plots, call 630-848-3615.
- Here's where 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
- The Naperville Park District’s Weather Cancellations & Facility Closures Rainout Line
GARDEN PLOT SIZE
Full Plot, 29’ x 18’ (approximately)
Half Plot, 14.5’ x 18’ (approximately)
Raised Plot, 20’ x 4’ (requires doctor’s note)
Garden Plots Map
Please remember the following as you begin to prepare for planting.
- Before planting, check and make sure you are in the correct plot.
- Garden plots are identified with a numbered wooden stake placed in the center of each plot.
- 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
- Four corner flags also mark each plot; adjoining plots will have common flags. Please do not remove the stake or the flags.
- Garden plots are identified with a numbered wooden stake placed in the center of each 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.
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
WHAT ELSE IS AT THE GARDEN PLOTS?
NATURE DISCOVERY AREA
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 Eagle 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. Trained volunteers, 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.
- These gardens highlight the native plants found in Illinois’ prairies, wetlands, woodlands and savannas.
- Include a sensory garden, sedge meadow, rain garden, monarch waystation and other pollinator gardens, fruit tree demonstration gardens, a tree nursery and a working compost system.
- These demonstration gardens help fulfill the District’s core values of teaching life skills and promoting sustainability.
- They offer a place to relax and learn about our natural environment. It's a great place to observe and learn about vegetables and fruits, perennials and annual plants that grow well in our climate. Native plants are well adapted to our area and demand less water and chemicals to grow and remain healthy.
- Can be visited during normal park hours (sunrise to one hour after sunset).
The NATURE DISCOVERY AREA includes these elements:
Several POLLINATOR GARDENS and NATIVE PLANTINGS are located throughout the area. Click here and here to read more about these planting projects.
A SMALL FRUIT GARDEN of fruit trees and berry vines extends south of the round Pollinator Garden inbetween parking spots and more POLLINATOR GARDENS were planted along the fenceline.
The IDEA GARDENS include easy-to-maintain native plants and provide interpretive signs with additional information. Specialty gardens include a Native Prairie, a Sensory Garden, a Sedge Meadow, a Rain Garden, and a Savanna Woodland along with a picnic area and mini labyrinth. A working compost system is also on display.
Sections of the Idea Gardens have been certified by the Conservation@Work/Home Program and as a Monarch Waystation.
A DONATION STATION kiosk, facing the parking lot, is used by gardeners who have extra fruits and vegetables to donate. Staff from Loaves & Fishes, a local food pantry, regularly pick up produce from this kiosk to take back to their organization.
Four MASTER GARDENER PLOTS are tended to by Master Gardners providing service hours and the produce is donated to Loaves & Fishes. These plots are located south of the Idea Gardens.
Next to the Master Gardeners' plots, a 12-fot triangular FRUIT TREE GUILD, a perennial, edible, sustainable garden designed around a fruit tree, was planted and is maintained by the Resiliency Institute. The guild includes yarrow, asparagus, chives, wild blue indigo, raspberry, daffodils, sorrel, coneflower, brazelberry, honeyberry, purple passion, New Jersey tea, strawberries and bee balm—all centered around an Asian pear tree, and all designed to become self-sustaining after a year of maintenance. To learn more about permaculture and fruit tree guilds, click here.
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.
ONSITE HONEY BEES
Three hives are currently onsite towards the back of the garden plots. As of 2020, one hive is inhabitated by honeybees with the hope that the hive will grow and expand into the other hives.
If you have further questions about the honey bees, please contact Beth Myers at 630-848-5038.
BENEFITS OF COMMUNITY GARDENING
Did you know that community gardening has multiple benefits?
The personal benefits of community gardening include:
- Elevated Mood
- Whole body exercise
- Lowered stress
- Improved Diet
- Increased social connections
- Environmental Stewardship
