The Fairfax County Park Authority, Supervisor Dan Storck and a cadre of community gardeners came together to celebrate the opening of the Laurel Hill Community Gardens in Lorton, Virginia. With the addition of these 19 garden plots, the Park Authority now administers 721 community gardens that allow residents who may not have access to gardening space at their residences to enjoy growing fresh fruits and vegetables.
The Laurel Hill Community Garden Plots, located on one of the U.S. Army’s former NIKE missile sites, is a shining example of accessibility, with several design accommodations focused on enhancing inclusion for individuals with disabilities and mobility challenges. Features include hard-packed stone dust surfacing, wide doorways and aisles, and the raised garden beds as opposed to in-ground planting.
“The accessibility features of the Laurel Hill Community Gardens really open up the space for everyone in the community to enjoy,” said Fairfax County Park Authority Executive Director Jai Cole. “People have been waiting for this day for a long time and we’re very excited to see this garden grow.”
The project is also bringing communities together to support families in need. The Lorton Community Action Center is sponsoring two garden plots and will be distributing the harvested fruits and vegetables through the food pantry to assist families and individuals facing food insecurity.
The Laurel Hill Community Gardens is the latest in the county’s transformation of the former Lorton Prison to Laurel Hill. The project joins a world-class golf course, equestrian center, and the Laurel Hill Central Green as an instantly popular community site, where gardeners can get their hands dirty and reap the benefits of gardening.
“The county’s work of recycling the Lorton prison property has been a huge victory for the community,” said Ross Panneton, a longtime resident of the community and current gardener at the site.
The Laurel Hill Community Garden Plots are located at 9105 Hooes Road in Lorton. For more information about the Fairfax County Park Authority’s Community Garden Plot Rental Program, visit the Community Garden Plot Rental Program website.