Maxwell Street Community Engagement Report: What We Learned & What Comes Next

Over this past summer growing season, the Maxwell Street Garden board has been working on a Community Engagement Report to better understand how our gardeners, neighbors, and volunteers feel about the garden—what’s working well, where we’re falling short, and how we can grow stronger together. One of our summer interns, Rita, took the time to conduct interviews and construct the final report.

Today, we’re excited to share a high-level overview of that report, along with the full document for anyone who wants to dig in deeper. Our goal is simple: transparency, clarity, and collaboration. This garden thrives because of you, and we want you to have a voice in shaping what comes next.

What’s in the Report

The Community Engagement Report gathers feedback from gardeners, neighbors, and community members about their experience with the garden. It takes a closer look at:

• How connected people feel to the garden

• What makes engagement easy—or difficult

• How accessible and welcoming the garden feels

• Which events and programs resonate most

• How communication is working (or not working)

• What opportunities exist to better serve our community

The report offers an honest look at both our strengths and our challenges, and it lays out potential solutions that can make our garden even more open, thriving, and supportive.

Key Issues Identified

Through the feedback we gathered, several themes emerged:

1. Sense of Community -  Long-time gardeners feel deep belonging, but newer members and neighbors often feel unsure how to get involved or connected.

2.  Barriers to Engagement - Gardeners cited time constraints and confusing communication. Neighbors shared that they often didn’t know the garden was open to them, or thought the space was “exclusive.”

3. Garden Access - Split opinions remain about locked gates. Some prioritize security; others feel locked gates send an unwelcoming message to the neighborhood.

4. Events & Programming - Events are appreciated, but attendance often varies due to timing and outreach. Many gardeners want more diverse, adult-friendly programming.

5. Communication - Too many emails, not enough clarity. Information is often scattered or lost, making it hard for gardeners to stay informed.

6. Outreach & Visibility - Many neighbors said they simply don’t know when events, open hours, or volunteer opportunities happen.

Proposed Solutions

The report also shares ideas for strengthening our community and making the garden more inviting:

1. Build Stronger Community Connections

   • Regular group gardening times or work days

   • Buddy system for new gardeners

   • Informal gatherings like potlucks, coffee chats, or seed swaps

2. Improve Communication

   • A weekly or biweekly digest instead of scattered emails

   • A single communication lead

   • A shared calendar and on-site bulletin board

3. Diversify Events

   • More adult-focused workshops, tastings, or social gatherings

   • Better publicity and varied scheduling

4. Increase Visibility

   • Clear signage

   • Stronger social media presence

   • Flyers, bulletin boards, and consistent branding

5. Balance Security with Accessibility

   • Predictable open hours

   • Signage that clearly welcomes neighbors

   • Gradual expansion of open times as comfort and volunteer support grows

   
   

Why This Matters

Maxwell Street Garden is more than a collection of plots—it’s a shared, green community space with the potential to bring people together across generations, backgrounds, and interests. Understanding our community’s needs helps us create a garden that reflects the values we all share: inclusion, connection, learning, and joy.

Publishing this report is an important step toward accountability and progress. It shows where we are today and where we hope to go together.

We Want Your Input

We invite every gardener to read the full report, reflect on the findings, and share your ideas. What solutions do you think could work? What did we miss? What would help you feel more connected and supported? Your voice is essential in shaping the path forward.

You can send thoughts to the board via email at maxwellstreetgarden@gmail.com, reach out during volunteer hours, or share your ideas at our next meeting. However you want to participate, we’re listening.

Final Report - MSG - Engage Chicago Summer 2025 Rita Franca (1).pdf

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