LYNN — An effort to clean up the community garden on Cook Street will take place on Saturday.
The Highlands Coalition, a Lynn-based nonprofit organization, will be organizing the event to help clear the area of overgrown weeds and trash in an effort led by a group of volunteers.
Located at 58 Cook St., the area is one of the three designated community gardens in Lynn. It now has 54 garden beds, and it’s meant to be a designated space for residents to grow fresh produce. The area also has a basketball court, which American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds helped renovate.
The Coalition originally led its plan to revamp the green space on Cook Street and turn it into a public garden in 2012. Outreach initiatives have included a compost training held by the Department of Public Works in 2017 and a class to teach local kids about plants and nutrition in 2018.
“It has very modern ideas. This used to be a spectacular place,” said Coalition Director David Gass.
However, Gass said that the garden area started to become neglected around three years ago due to perceived safety concerns from residents, as unhoused individuals would often sleep in the garden.
“We want to change the perception of this place with a community gathering,” Gass said.
The process to maintain the garden started in April 2024 with a group cleaning session to restore the garden beds, which was attended by Ward 2 Councilor Obed Matul, Councilor-at-Large Nicole McClain, and State Rep. Sean Reid.
Gass said this year’s efforts are continuing to revitalize the aesthetic of the garden, and it’s being held in October so the weather isn’t too cold.
The Coalition is currently looking for more volunteers to help with the cleanup effort at 58 Cook St. on Saturday. Those interested in participating can call (781) 469-5162.
