Originally published in the Park Bugle, March 2025.
The St. Anthony Park Community Garden—an affiliate group of the St. Anthony Park Community Council (SAPCC)—is buzzing with plans for a major expansion. With support from SAPCC, the Garden recently applied for an urban agriculture grant to reclaim a portion of former railroad land along Robbins Street. If successful, the project will establish a new orchard, install a fence to safely separate active tracks, and plant pollinator-friendly beds to keep the neighborhood’s bees and butterflies thriving.
Leading the effort is longtime gardener Sherman Eagles, who has seen the Garden blossom into a vibrant gathering place over the years. “We’re excited to repurpose this land and add more edible and native plants,” says Eagles. Backing him up is Bill Anderson, a Minnesota State Horticultural Society volunteer who’s equally invested in bringing sustainable gardening and educational programs to the neighborhood. “We see this as a chance for folks of all ages to learn new skills,” Anderson explains, “and to come together to celebrate the best of St. Anthony Park’s small-town spirit.”
SAPCC expects to know if the grant has been awarded by Spring 2025, and in the meantime, community members can stay updated by following the SAPCC website, social media pages, and attending upcoming Council meetings. If you have ideas—or simply want to lend a helping hand—keep an eye out for volunteer days and planning sessions. This reclaimed space may once have been railroad land, but soon, it could be a thriving orchard and a place where neighbors can dig in, learn together, and watch St. Anthony Park bloom.