TITLE
Recommendation to authorize City Manager, or designee, to execute all documents necessary to issue and administer a new lease with Adventures to Dreams Enrichment, Inc., a nonprofit public benefit corporation, for the use of approximately 0.23-acres of City-owned land within the Drake Chavez Greenbelt to develop, operate, maintain and provide future improvements as a youth and family educational garden and farm produce stand, for a period of five years, from March 1, 2020 through February 28, 2025, with the option to renew for two, two-year periods, at the discretion of the City Manager. (District 1)
DISCUSSION
In March 2019, the Parks and Recreation Commission (Commission) heard a presentation on a proposed urban agriculture partnership with Adventures to Dreams Enrichment, Inc. (ADE), a 501 (c)(3) nonprofit corporation. ADE proposed the establishment of a youth, ages 4-13, and family educational garden. The proposed garden would offer outdoor Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics (STEAM) education, through access points that guide student inquiry, dialogue, and critical thinking.
Incorporated in 2015, ADE's mission is "to inspire and empower children living in at-risk communities to dream BIG and believe they can achieve anything in life by exposing them to safe, fun, interactive, recreational, and educational learning environments." ADE accomplishes this mission through the integration of educational tools, hands-on learning, self-esteem activities, guest speakers, industry professionals, mentorship, and field trips to inspire and empower every child. ADE is currently operating at the South 40 Garden that is operated by Long Beach Organic.
In November 2019, the Parks, Recreation and Marine Department (PRM) received a proposal from ADE for the urban agriculture partnership at the Drake Chavez Greenbelt (Park) (Attachment A). With the addition of the new Park location, ADE plans to add 15 more families to the program. Every thir...
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