A Center of Growth

Community Garden

The Bridge Community Garden is a unique enrichment program at The Bridge. The Community Garden was started in April 2009 by a local businessman with a desire to garden but no place to do it. He toured the neighborhood and contacted The Bridge. This neighbor and now lead volunteer, Dan Bradford, began with six raised beds of fruits and vegetables. Then The Bridge was awarded a grant from The Blue Cross Blue Shield of Florida Foundation and doubled the size of the garden and the number of students who could take the Garden Classes.

The Garden is also a place where Bridge children and teens learn how to plant and harvest their own fruits and vegetables while at the same time learning about team work, responsibility and entrepreneurship. The Bridge Community Garden has expanded to over 800 square feet and houses tomatoes, cucumbers, onions, blackberries, blueberries, strawberries, lettuce and so much more.

The Bridge Garden was awarded a second Blue Cross Blue Shield Foundation grant to increase the size of the garden and add a running and exercise component to the program.  The size of the garden was increased with the addition of an arboretum consisting of 12 citrus trees. 

Volunteer Dan Bradford was also recognized by Bank of America with a Community Hero Award in 2010.