Playground Next to Community Garden Should Blossom by Spring

River and Roots Community Garden growers are starting to see their first blossom of 2012, after the Riverhead Town Board on Wednesday night awarded a $51,000 bid for playground equipment, to be set up next to the West Main Street garden this spring. .

Heading into its second year, the community garden - started by Amy Davidson and Laurie Nigro - is accepting applications to fill the 4-foot by 10-foot plots on the town-owned land across from Griffing Avenue. But Davidson said there's already a short waiting list, though some spots should open up as not all of last year's gardeners are coming back for various reasons.

"We shouldn't have trouble filling the garden again this year," Davidson said.

The RRCG has obtained funds from the Riverhead Business Improvement District, Cornell Cooperative Extension, fees for using the garden, and county grant funding - which is paying for the playground equipment - to get up and running. In the past year, the town also utilized a county grant to . And Davidson added the Riverhead Rotary Club is donating money to pay for the cost of the fence surrounding the playground.

Town Engineer Ken Testa said in the October meeting that three-acre Grangebel Park —  — may be connected to the plot with a decorative walkway.

"The past year has been an incredible learning experience," she said.

Davidson said in March, the group will start planting its seeds for spring crops.