SummaryThe Maybarton Community Garden Planning Group, in conjunction with the Town of Clinton Office of Community and Economic Development, intend to convert the vacant lot at 159 High St, Clinton, MA into a community garden.  We are seeking support from area groups, residents, and businesses to help fund and guide the development of this project.BackgroundFor the past 15 years, the downtown area of Clinton, MA has been blighted by a vacant lot where the Maybarton Gardens bowling alley once stood. Even before the structure collapsed in 2001, there had been no interest in commercially developing the site since the 1980s. Today, the lot is unmaintained and filled with weeds, rubble, and garbage. It is an eyesore. Therefore, it is the proposal of this planning group, in conjunction with Clinton’s Office of Community and Economic Development, that the lot at 159 High St be converted into a community garden.Converting the Maybarton lot into a community garden will provide several benefits to the town and its residents. A community garden will provide a space for low-income individuals, families, youths, and seniors to grow and consume healthy fruits and vegetables. The gardening process will also provide an opportunity for physical, outdoor activity for this population. Having a shared, vibrant space in the downtown area will increase social and cultural capital by stimulating  interpersonal connections in the community via workshops, demonstrations, learning gardens, volunteer days, other events. Lastly, a community garden at this location will also eliminate a blight that has been negatively affecting the area for several decades now.ApproachEstablishing a community garden at the Maybarton lot will require a fair amount of work on the part of the planning group, but more importantly input and support from the community will be needed. Our approach is first to meet with key stakeholders (municipal officials, local businesses, and community groups) in order to address planning concerns and secure initial funding. From there we will establish a web presence and generate publicity in order to build public support and solicit needed donations. We will also  be partnering with an area non-profit group for at least one year in order to develop programming and initial set of garden plots.The Maybarton Community Garden will be open for public use beginning in Spring 2015. A small number of garden plots and events will be available to residents, but 2015 will largely be a “ramp up” year. This will give the planning group time to further develop the site, and evaluate the garden’s development and address any issues that may arise.BudgetWe project the minimum threshold startup cost for the garden to be $8,000 - $14,000, depending on the amount of in-kind support we receive. This figure includes the costs of preparing the site (clearing the lot, installing lighting and irrigation, amending the existing soil, fencing, etc.), as well as the cost of contracting with a local non-profit group (Growing Places,http://growingplaces.org/) to install raised beds and conduct a teaching garden program.Since this is an entirely volunteer-driven effort, there are no indirect or overhead costs. All donations from the general public, local businesses and community groups will be put directly towards the cost of developing the site and associated programming. Already we have garnered financial support from the Worcester County Conservation District, several community groups, and private citizens. Growing Places, an area non-profit, has agreed to be out fiscal sponsor. They are a registered 501c3 non-profit, so all donations to the Maybarton Community Garden will be tax-deductible. There is much interest in this project, but we will need further support to make it happen. All sponsors of this project will be recognized with signage on the site, as well as in all future publications.