HomeMy WebLinkAbout2013 Edible Playground
City of Edina • 4801 W. 50th St. • Edina, MN 55424
Contact: Katherine Lofrano, Communications Intern
Phone 952-833-9537 • Fax 952-826-0389 • www.EdinaMN.gov
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Openings still available in Edina’s ‘Edible Playground’
Edina, Minn., June 4, 2013 – Children can learn about gardening and healthy eating while staying active
through the Edina Parks & Recreation Department’s new “Edible Playground” program.
The Edible Playground program is built off of Edina’s traditional Playground programs. In the program to be
held June 17to July 25, kids ages 6 to10 have the opportunity to enjoy playground activities, along with
planting, maintaining and harvesting from the Edible Playground. The program will run on Mondays and
Wednesdays from 1 to 4 p.m.
Through the program, children have the opportunity “to get a taste of what it is like to garden,” said Kristin
Aarsvold, Recreation Supervisor for the City of Edina.
The Edible Playground is located at Lewis Park, 7300 Cahill Road. The garden was fully funded from grants
from Dow Water & Process Solutions, Minnesota Department of Health through a Statewide Health
Improvement Program grant, and the Edina Resource Center with funding from Blue Cross and Blue Shield of
Minnesota. Fairview Southdale Hospital provided the largest grant for the garden, making the project possible.
On May 30, volunteers from Dow helped build the planters for the garden. Volunteers from the University of
Minnesota Master Gardener program are also providing green thumb assistance.
While space is limited, there is still room for more participants in Edina’s first Edible Playground program.
Aarsvold confirms that the goals of the Edible Playground program are to “provide a hands-on opportunity to
teach kids about gardening (food production and a lifelong leisure skill), to inspire kids to eat healthy and
nutritious food through fun activities as well as help kids make the connection between how fresh food fuels
bodies for being active.”
All Edina youth are encouraged to register for the playground program located at Lewis Park. Visit
www.EdinaParks.com to register today.
For more information, call the Edina Parks & Recreation Department at 952-826-0367 or visit
www.EdinaParks.com.
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