Bedford, Indiana Increases Access to Healthy Food and Spurs Neighborhood-Level Social Change with Community Garden

In 2017, the Bedford Parks and Recreation Department partnered with Live Well Lawrence County to open Bedford Garden Park, a community garden. The resulting park is now a space that produces food, brings people together, and offers activities that improve physical and mental health. The park includes a quarter mile walking trail, 40x80 foot greenhouse, tool shed share program, bee hive program, and several bird and bat houses. It is also home to 72 active plots and eight raised beds. The project has been supported by local agencies, a crowdfunding campaign, and an extensive network of community groups and individuals.