Thanks for your note about the community garden expansion. We met with the parks department yesterday and they approved the additional plots behind the recreation center. The soil in that area tested well and we should be able to start planting by early next month. We still need volunteers to help build the raised beds this weekend. I will bring the lumber and screws we have stored in the shed. If you can bring a hammer and a tape measure that would be great. The weather looks clear so we should be able to make good progress. We plan to plant tomatoes, peppers, and cucumbers in the new beds. The kids from the after-school program will help with the seeds on Tuesday. We also need someone to manage the watering schedule once everything is in the ground. I think we can rotate that duty among the group. Let me know if you have any ideas for what else we should plant. The space gets full sun from mid-morning until late afternoon so most vegetables will thrive. I am looking forward to seeing everything grow.

I looked into the schedule for the neighborhood walking group you mentioned. Tuesday and Thursday mornings work best for most people so we will start with those days. We plan to meet at the entrance of Oak Park at 7 AM and walk the loop trail which takes about 45 minutes at a moderate pace. The trail is mostly flat with a few gentle slopes and should be accessible for all fitness levels. We will have a brief stretch and cool down at the end. A few members offered to lead on rotating weeks so the responsibility is shared. We also discussed creating a phone group to share updates if weather cancels a walk. I will send out a reminder each evening before our scheduled walk. If you know anyone else who might want to join please feel free to invite them. The group is open to all ages and we welcome new faces. I think this will be a great way to stay active and connect with neighbors at the same time. Let me know if you have any questions about the route or the timing and I can pass them along to the group.