The Kingman Park-Rosedale Community Garden (“KPR Garden”) was founded in the Spring of 2005 to provide Kingman Park and Rosedale residents with a space for growing food and connecting with neighbors. Though neighbors had gardened there through the 1990’s, the property had become overgrown with weeds and filled with garbage such as abandoned cars and liquor bottles for years. Today it is filled with produce, flowers, and community. The Rosedale Citizens’ Alliance was able to purchase the Garden property in 2014 through a tax sale process at a significant discount. The District worked with RCA and Garden members to forgive tens of thousands of dollars in back taxes that the previous owner had failed to pay. In 2015, RCA transferred the Garden to the Friends of Kingman Park, the civic association that represents the neighborhood. A 99 year lease between the Garden and FOKP was execuited to ensure the Garden remains a public greenspace well into the next century.
The Garden now consists of over one hundred gardeners in 60 plots that are rented by Garden Members, three public plots with produce and flowers for non-member residents, and over 30 fruit and decorative trees. Any member for whom cost would be a barrier can pay reduced or no dues. Last year we organized donations to District Mutual Aid, contributing dozens of shopping bags full of fresh produce throughout the summer and fall.
The Kingman Park/Rosedale Garden (“KPR Garden”) is fiscally sponsored by the Rosedale Citizens Alliance, a 501(c)(3) non-profit. Early grants from the Capitol Hill Community Foundation and Washington Parks and People were essential to the Garden’s creation. The Capitol Hill Community Foundation has continued to be a vital supporter of the Garden, contributing $15,000 over the years.
Kingman Park-Rosedale Community Garden 