The Flint Hills Regional Leadership Program, Class of 2015-16, will collaborate with the 12th Street Community Center to plan and implement Junction City’s first community garden.

Class member Kaitlin McGuire said the Flint Hills Regional Leadership Program’s goal is to develop the skills of future leaders to help make the Flint Hills region the best place in Kansas to live, work, and raise their children. The class hopes to continue that vision by creating a garden in the community that will bring people together, build community leaders, and foster the development of community identity and spirit.

A groundbreaking ceremony for the garden will be held Thursday, A[pril 21 at 2 p.m. at the 12th Street Community Center, 1002 West 12th Street. On Friday, May13, the leadership class will host students USD 475 who will be taught leadership skills and have a hand in constructing the garden for a ribbon cutting and grand opening ceremony later that day.

The garden site will consist of eight garden plots which can be broken up into smaller plots if needed. By-laws and a Board of Directors to oversee the garden are in the process of being created. Initially plots will be allocated to groups and organizations to manage, with plots for families and individuals opening in the future. Some produce from the plots will be used to benefit community programs.

The project team is looking for supplies, donations, and volunteers to make the garden a success. So far community support has been evident. Those organizations and businesses who have provided support include Bayer Construction, Blueville Nursery, Central National Bank, City of Junction City, Corvias Military Living, Geary County Extension Office, Home Lumber Floors To Go, Kansas State University Agronomy, Orscheln Farm & Home. and Waters True Value.

For more information or to see how you can contribute contact McGuire at 785-762-2632. You can visit the Garden’s Facebook page at www.facebook.com/12garden.