West Ward Community Gardens Named Best in State

The West Ward Neighborhood Partnership has received the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society's Community Greening Award for its community gardens and urban farm program.

The WWNP was one of 89 programs around the state that was nominated, the organization said in a news release.

The project began with four gardens in 2008, and since expanded to 13 gardens, as well as an urban farm on the South Side, a small greenhouse, and two summer garden programs for kids.

The gardens were funded by a grant from the Wells Fargo Regional Foundation with the hopes of "greening" the mostly residential neighborhood.

"Included in the proposal was an ambitious plan to create backyard and community organic gardens and orchards, with neighborhood residents and organizations as partners," the WWNP said in its news release.

Program members had been scheduled to receive the award Tuesday from Pennsylvania First Lady Susan Corbett and PHS President Drew Becher, but that trip was called off due to the weather.

On Wednesday, Easton City Council will honor the WWNP with a citation for its work.