The McKinney Parks Foundation (MPF) is proud to work alongside the City of McKinney to create the East McKinney Learning Garden (EMLG). The EMLG will break ground this Spring and is expected to be completed in second quarter 2024.

Located at 704 Greenville Rd in McKinney, the Garden is adjacent to the new TUPPS Brewery and a short stroll to the Historic McKinney Downtown Square. The Garden’s goal is to assist in bridging the large food-desert gap in our community by teaching people how to create food-producing gardens in their own backyards and to use that food as part of a healthy diet.

The garden will feature about 30 raised garden beds in a variety of styles as well as a storage area, potting benches and a harvest wash area. The space will also serve as an outdoor classroom with a teaching area and will feature a monarch butterfly waystation. It is our hope that the EMLG will be the most accessible garden in Collin County allowing people of all abilities to work together.

The learning garden will host a variety of classes/learning opportunities and students of the garden will range from children to seniors. The garden will be managed and maintained by volunteers and classes will be led by local teachers, chefs, farmers, gardeners, community leaders and more.

Food produced at the garden will be distributed to area agencies focused on food insecurities and the community including Community Garden Kitchen, La Tiendita, Hugs Café and East McKinney Farmers Market.

Any donation is appreciated. Sponsorship levels are:

• $50,000 – Cultivator
• $25,000 – Grower
• $10,000 – Harvester
• $5000 – Sower
• $1000 – Sustainer
• $100 – Friend

A further description of the project with current status, fundraising information, and needs can be found in the attached update.

If interested in becoming a sponsor or making a donation to the EMLG, please use this link or contact Bruce Mead at bmeadgbr@gmail.com.

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