Inclusive Community Garden Design

PROJECT PROFILE: Inclusive Community Gardens
In Atlantic, Camden, and Gloucester Counties, Southern New Jersey

About

This project aims to follow inclusive design principles to build and/or renovate seven community gardens in southern New Jersey and make the gardens welcoming to people with disabilities, including developmental and intellectual disabilities. Garden design teams for each of the seven participating gardens across Atlantic, Camden, and Gloucester counties are creating gardens that are more welcoming of people with disabilities. Features of these gardens include raised and “table-top” beds for those who use walkers and wheelchairs, adding braille and pictures to the text on signs, and creating peaceful spaces without excessive sensory stimuli (such as windchimes and spinning objects).

Key Project Team

Leslie Spencer, PhD (Principal Investigator)
Dara LoBuono, PhD (Co-Principal Investigator)
Mahbubur Meenar, PhD (Co-Principal Investigator)
Jenna Bottiglieri (Project Coordinator)

Technical Assistance & Consultancy

Alex Seidel & Brian Pearsall (Backyard Gardens LLC)
Paige Vaccaro (C.R.O.P.S.)
Sonya Harris (Bullock Garden Project, Inc.)

This project is part of a larger Inclusive Healthy Communities initiative, funded by the Division of Disability Services, New Jersey Department of Human Services. The $250,000 grant was awarded to the partner organizations of the Family Resource Network, Rowan University, and Stockton University. The goal of this grant is to help communities become more inclusive and welcoming to individuals with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities through a variety of projects.

Any questions? Please send an email to spencer@rowan.edu or meenar@rowan.edu.