FRIENDS OF THE GARDENS
A Tale of
Two Gardens
Ever since 21st Avenue SE (south of Talmage) was vacated, the desire to transform the desolate triangle into a blooming garden existed.
Unable to rip up the asphalt in the vacated road in 2012, the Talmage Crossing Garden began in the western half. The eastern half is barren to this day.
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With the proposed expansion, both sides will be unified in the Talmage Triangle Community Garden.
This is the tale of two gardens destined to be together.
The Beginnings of the...
Talmage Crossing
Garden
2008 - Talmage Crossing before
The beginnings of the Talmage Crossing Garden started as an area BNSF railway routinely stored crushed rock and annually sprayed strong herbicides to keep the 6-foot tall weeds at bay. In 1977, 21st avenue south between the BNSF railway and Talmage Avenue SE was closed to traffic. In 2008, fed up with the weeds and waste, a group of concerned residents began asking BNSF Railway for permission to plant.
2004-2006
Clean Slate
Also that year, the City of Minneapolis installed curbs and sidewalk across the vacated street while leaving the barricade in place. 21st Avenue SE would never cross the railroad again.
2008 - Talmage Crossing before
2010-11
New Ideas
A Minneapolis Public Works Sewer Technician met members of the neighborhood on-site and proposed removing the asphalt and re-routing street drainage into a rain garden. Unfortunately, we also discovered that part of the vacated right-of-way (ROW) is private property and must be acquired to start this project.
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Set back, yet determined, the neighborhood followed up May of 2010 and November of 2011 to no avail.
2010 - Aerial of MPLS Public Works proposed storm-water design
2010
Paths & Plots
From there, the neighborhood galvanized; drafting design plans and conducting soil tests.
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The SECIA Garden Coordinator at the time, Stephanie Hankerson, recruited students to help order free woodchips and plant Dutch White Clover to enrich the soil with nutrients.
2010 - original design drawing of Talmage Crossing Garden
2012
Breaking Ground
BNSF offered to lease SECIA the railroad land to create the Talmage Crossing Garden. In exchange, we agreed to install a chain-link fence along the tracks and abide by some garden restrictions. The following Fall, gardeners, neighbors, and students joined together to plant.
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Alas, the asphalt had to stay in place.
2012 - original planting of Talmage Crossing Garden
2019
A New Design
The concept for the Talmage Triangle Rain Garden was revived. SECIA hired Metro Blooms to design a landscape and planting plan. The project was also added to the Minneapolis Public Works 2021 Schedule.
2021
Seed Funds Secured
SECIA approved the resolution to establish the Talmage Triangle Raingarden Sustainability Fund due, in large part, to the generous donation of a couple in the neighborhood. Through their advocacy, the fund will both support the establishment of the Talmage Triangle Raingarden and the long-term sustainability of SE Como pollinator gardens.
2022 - Talmage Crossing Garden today
Today
The Petition
For more than 45 years, the vacated street has sat empty, collected trash, and contributed to storm-water pollution in the Mississippi. The Talmage Triangle Raingarden Project proposes expanding the Talmage Crossing Garden. Former blacktop will become a home for pollinators and a welcoming space for people and wildlife.
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Join the neighborhood asking Council Members to advocate for the Talmage Triangle Rain Garden Project.
2022 - Talmage Crossing Garden today