By Kathleen Brady Shea, Managing Editor, The Times

Resident John Thomas (left) listens as Chris Stejskal, an intern at Maffei Landscape Design, LLC., provides Borough Council with an exterior vision for the new Public Works Garage, a plan that incorporates a community garden into the landscape.

A request for gardening space in Kennett Square took root Monday night as Borough Council applauded a request from CATA, a migrant farmworkers’ organization.

Rachel Winograd, the food justice coordinator for the nonprofit, said the group hoped to make use of space that could be available at the borough’s new Public Works Garage, under construction at South and South Washington Streets. Winograd said the organization launched a similar project in Bridgeton, N.J., buying a site at nominal cost that is now teeming with vegetables.

She said CATA, which was founded by migrant farmworkers in southern New Jersey in 1979 to improve their living conditions, has seen the benefits of community gardens in fostering improved nutrition, a sense of accomplishment, and residents’ camaraderie. She said the group operates on the principle that “food is a basic human right.”

A plan by Maffei Landscape Design, LLC., shows a possible community garden in the top left corner of the borough’s new Public Works complex.

In seeking an affordable site, Winograd said she came in contact with Joseph Scalise, the borough’s director of Public Works, who suggested that the new Public Works complex might be a good fit.

The timing dovetailed well with an initiative from Borough Council President Dan Maffei, who owns a landscape design business. Maffei said he had offered to do a free master plan for the site, and had turned the project over to Chris Stejskal, an intern who was entrusted with coming up with a vision that would beautify the site without busting the budget.

Stejskal, a University of Delaware graduate who recently served as a horticultural intern at Walt Disney World, apparently brought some  magic back to Kennett Square.  His design, which included thrifty, eco-friendly elements such as a rainwater harvesting shed, a composting post that could be used by residents, and native plants to improve stream quality and combat erosion, also incorporated a potential community garden into the plan.

Kennett Square Mayor Matt Fetick (left) swears in Earl T. “Rusty” Jones as an alternate on the borough’s Civil Service Commission.

“It’s a great use of the property,” said Councilman Geoffrey R. Bosley. “It makes a lot of sense.”

Councilman F. Sean Walker questioned whether the garden would expose the borough to any liability or interfere with the public works employees; however, he learned that CATA’s allotted space would be outside the department’s fenced area.

“I think it’s absolutely the right thing to do – without question,” said Councilman Leon R. Spencer Jr.

Only one citizen, John Thomas, expressed opposition to the proposal, testily chiding Borough Council for not questioning the migrants’ group more about what he perceived as its exclusionary nature. Several Borough Council members told Thomas he had  misinterpreted the group’s intentions. Although CATA would “host” the site, everyone was welcome to participate, Mayor Matt Fetick said. Thomas later apologized for some of his remarks.

After hearing the positive consensus, Maffei said the council would continue to “refine the plan and move forward.” If CATA were not interested in using the space, the borough would have had more land to mow or maintain, he said. He also said he hoped CATA’s proposal would inspire other residents.

“The spirit is neighbors helping neighbors,” Maffei said. “Bring us your ideas; we rely on the community to help us.”

In other business, the council approved the appointment of Earl T. “Rusty” Jones as an alternate on the Civil Service Commission and thanked him for his willingness to serve. Jones was sworn in by Fetick. Borough Council also agreed to meet with the Kennett Area Park Authority to discuss the pending transition as Public Works is relocated from Anson B. Nixon Park to its new location.

Richard Lyon, vice chairman of the Kennett Area Park Authority, said the park has proven popular. The summer concerts have each attracted over 400 attendees, and the costs have been covered by the sponsors, he added. He said the park has 13 reservations right now, including the three-day Brandywine Folk Festival, which begins on Aug. 23.