City turns resident's hobby into community project

COLUMBUS, Neb.— Community members are coming together to create a space for new plant life to grow in Columbus.

After a resident reached out to the City of Columbus asking if the city could build a community garden for people without yards like her. 

“It's something that we've, you know, looked at too for the past four years that I've been with the city,” Parks and Recreation Director Sydney Mroczek said. “Communities do it all over the place, and we thought that this would be a perfect time to, you know, start something new in Columbus.”

In the spring, Frontier Park will become the home for the 16 4 by 8 beds that residents will be able to rent to have their own garden without needing space at their homes.

The beds were handmade by the construction students at Columbus High School who now will be able to see their work for years to come.

“The cool thing is that that’s stuff that's going to be around the community for a long time to come, so they'll be able to see it,” construction teacher at CHS Marcus Gillespie said. “They'll be able to show their kids, their grandkids, whatever, that this is what I did. So it’s pretty cool.”

The city has worked with many local businesses for the project such as the fencing around the area at the park and the lumber for the beds.

Applications open this weekend to rent a plot.  Contracts and guidelines can be found at columbusne.us