In 2016, the Oak Lawn Park District partnered with SD123 and the Village of Oak Lawn to build a community garden in Oak Lawn. The garden, located on the North side of Oak Lawn Senior Center near 104th & Cook, is a ½ acre area that was developed into 2 sections.
- The Allotment section if for families and individuals to rent allotments and grow their own food, or for local residents or organizations to grow produce to be donated to a local food pantry.
- The Pantry Garden section is run by volunteers and the goal is to grow vegetables to entirely donate to the local food pantries. There are 35 beds that volunteers, churches, and organizations use to grow vegetables and share with the community. In the first year of the garden, OLCG donated 350 lbs. of produce. Here is a breakdown of the amount of food donated over the past few years:
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- 2024: 2,350 lbs
- 2023: 2,500 lbs
- 2022: 2,700 lbs