Community leaders, health organizations and local residents joined Building Bridges Farms on June 3 to open the 7th Bridge Park Plot, this one at the Washington View Apartments.
The Bridge Park built 16 raised garden beds to create a community garden for the residents of the 353-unit property in DC’s Ward 8, managed by WC Smith.
The lack of access to healthy, fresh food is a ongoing concern for communities east of the Anacostia River. Ward 8 has just one full-service grocery store, a Giant supermarket opened by WC Smith in 2008.
All the produce grown at the farm will be distributed at no charge at an on-site pantry.
Creating this garden “is a way to address that larger food desert east of the river and really remove barriers for a healthier outcome,” said Scott Katz, Director of the 11th Street Bridge Park and Executive Vice President of Building Bridges Across the River.
WC Smith founded Building Bridges Across the River in 1997 as the nonprofit organization that manages THEARC. Building Bridges also operates the 11th Street Bridge Park, Skyland Workforce Center and Bridge Park Farms.
The gardens are part of a program called ViewStrong, launched by the Bridge Park in partnership with National Housing Trust, Black Nurses Rock, the American Diabetes Association, Capital Area Food Bank, WC Smith, and DC Central Kitchen. ViewStrong is a place-based initiative building a healthier & more prosperous Ward 8
“Food is medicine, so this farm adds value to the market that is now open to add fresh produce that helps address food insecurities in this area,” said Perina Gaines, the President of Black Nurses Rock, DC Chapter.
Novo Nordisk and Bank of America are supporting this three-year effort.
The Washington View garden joins THEARC Farm and Bridge Park Plots at Union Temple Baptist Church, National Children’s Center, Hopkins Housing Complex, Allen Chapel AME Church and Nationals Park.
