Las Vegas Inaugurates Urban Farm In Historic Westside
Las Vegas Review-Journal
April 12, 2023
The Historic Westside’s urban farm’s inaugural harvest is just about ready to be distributed to those in the community experiencing food insecurity — in many cases for free.
The city on Wednesday afternoon hosted a ribbon-cutting ceremony outside a pair of 40-foot shipping containers converted into hydroponic pods, which sits in the previously-shuttered James Gay III Park near Harrison Avenue and B Street.
Growing in them? Nevada Lettuce, green beans, parsley, collard greens, basil, cilantro, arugula, berries, and even Bok choy and house plants, Mayor Carolyn Goodman noted.
“I can’t think of a better project than this urban farm,” she said. “Many of us took for granted that we grew up eating fresh fruits and vegetables that were readily available to our families, but to many in the Historic Westside, it has not been the reality.”
The greens and fruits, being grown year-round, will come to no cost to Nutrition Assistance Program beneficiaries, which is about 45 percent of the predominantly Black community. Neighborhood residents will obtain discounts, while others will pay market prices.
Initially, the groceries will be distributed through farmers’ markets and food pantries.
An on-site “cooperative grocery store” is in the works, as are housing and retail space the park, which officials project will become a community gathering space, according to the city.
‘Very historic day’
Councilman Cedric Crear, who represents the ward, declared Wednesday a “very historic day” for the community.
“It’s incredibly exciting and gratifying to see this Historic Westside come back alive,” he said.
The first harvest, planted early in early March, is expected to be ready late this month, Crear said.
MGM Resorts International, which kickstarted the project with a $500,000 donation to secure the converted containers from a Boston-based company, vowed to buy leftover products for its restaurants.
The farm is part of the city’s “Hundred Plan,” an investment kicked off in 2016 to help redevelop the neighborhood, which is besieged by food insecurity and unemployment.
Las Vegas resident Justin Michael Lewis learned on social media about the ceremony on social media and “wanted to come out and support.”
“This is huge,” he said. “What this really means is a way for us to connect with nature and the community.”
Lewis said his support will be ongoing.
“This is a project that’s going to be able to revitalize (the Historic Westside) and give back especially to underserved and impoverished communities to have ample food for their families,” he said. “Having an extra supply here is better than having not enough.”
Lewis then shared photos of the event with his 5.4 million followers on Instagram.
12,000 plants
Tammy Malich, who leads Las Vegas’ Department of Youth Development & Social Innovation, told the Review-Journal that the farm is being overseen with a consulting firm, but that trained city staff will also be involved.
“When it’s time to harvest, it will be all hands on deck,” she added. The containers can turn over fresh harvests in three to six months, she said.
Yearly operational costs to grow eight tons of produce — or 12,000 plants — will vary between $33,000 to less than $100,000 depending if all of it was given away for free, or all sold at market cost, Malich said.
Malich said the city partnered with a chef’s culinary program that’s educating children about the farm-grown produce. They will staff mobile training academies to share that wisdom with the community so they, too, can cook “healthy, tasty foods.”
The city hopes the accompanying grocery store will be built in the next couple of years, but its timeline, like those for housing and the retail space, is fluid, Malich said.
Crear said the city looked at places such Denver, where city-run, shipping-container urban farms have proven successful.
“There is no shame in stealing a good idea,” he said.
Contact Ricardo Torres-Cortez at rtorres@reviewjournal.com. Follow @rickytwrites on Twitter.
Photos: Las Vegas City Councilman Cedric Crear cuts the ribbon for the opening of two urban farm containers flanked by city and MGM officials, from left: Anthony Williams, planning commissioner with Las Vegas, Maria Gatti, MGM director of diversity relations, Jyoti Chopra, chief people, inclusion and sustainability officer for MGM, officer Lisa Morris Hibbler, Las Vegas chief community services, and Tony Gladney, vice president of diversity, equity, and inclusion for MGM, at James Gay Park in the historic West Side in Las Vegas, Wednesday, April 12, 2023. (Rachel Aston/Las Vegas Review-Journal) @rookie__rae
Ron Voight, a project consultant, right, speaks with Kelly Woods, left, as they look at the plants growing in an urban farm container at James Gay Park in the historic West Side in Las Vegas, Wednesday, April 12, 2023. The two climate-controlled containers, which will operate year-round, will grow leafy greens, herbs, vining berries, vegetables, and flowers. (Rachel Aston/Las Vegas Review-Journal) @rookie__rae
Las Vegas City Councilman Cedric Crear addresses the crowd at a ribbon cutting ceremony for two urban farm containers at James Gay Park in the historic West Side in Las Vegas, Wednesday, April 12, 2023. The two climate-controlled containers, which will operate year-round, will grow leafy greens, herbs, vining berries, vegetables and flowers. (Rachel Aston/Las Vegas Review-Journal) @rookie__rae
Green beans inside one of the two urban farm containers at James Gay Park in the historic West Side in Las Vegas, Wednesday, April 12, 2023. The two climate-controlled containers, which will operate year-round, will grow leafy greens, herbs, vining berries, vegetables and flowers. (Rachel Aston/Las Vegas Review-Journal) @rookie__rae
Las Vegas Mayor Carolyn Goodman addresses the crowd at a ribbon cutting ceremony for two urban farm containers at James Gay Park in the historic West Side in Las Vegas, Wednesday, April 12, 2023. The two climate-controlled containers, which will operate year-round, will grow leafy greens, herbs, vining berries, vegetables and flowers. (Rachel Aston/Las Vegas Review-Journal) @rookie__rae
Sprouts of Nevada lettuce inside one of the two urban farm containers at James Gay Park in the historic West Side in Las Vegas, Wednesday, April 12, 2023. The two climate-controlled containers, which will operate year-round, will grow leafy greens, herbs, vining berries, vegetables and flowers. (Rachel Aston/Las Vegas Review-Journal) @rookie__rae
Las Vegas Mayor Carolyn Goodman addresses the crowd at a ribbon cutting ceremony for two urban farm containers at James Gay Park in the historic West Side in Las Vegas, Wednesday, April 12, 2023. The two climate-controlled containers, which will operate year-round, will grow leafy greens, herbs, vining berries, vegetables and flowers. (Rachel Aston/Las Vegas Review-Journal) @rookie__rae
Leafy greens inside one of the two urban farm containers at James Gay Park in the historic West Side in Las Vegas, Wednesday, April 12, 2023. The two climate-controlled containers, which will operate year-round, will grow leafy greens, herbs, vining berries, vegetables and flowers. (Rachel Aston/Las Vegas Review-Journal) @rookie__rae
Las Vegas City Councilman Cedric Crear addresses the crowd at a ribbon cutting ceremony for two urban farm containers at James Gay Park in the historic West Side in Las Vegas, Wednesday, April 12, 2023. The two climate-controlled containers, which will operate year-round, will grow leafy greens, herbs, vining berries, vegetables and flowers. (Rachel Aston/Las Vegas Review-Journal) @rookie__rae
The two climate-controlled urban farm containers at James Gay Park in the historic West Side in Las Vegas, Wednesday, April 12, 2023. (Rachel Aston/Las Vegas Review-Journal) @rookie__rae