On June 29, 2019, the re-grand opening for the 18th Street People’s Garden officially opened to the public in Merced.

Several people came out to the re-grand opening, which offered raffles, appetizers, and live music from Candice and the Passengers.

The 18th Street People’s Garden, which is funded by the People’s Budget came about when a group of volunteers went out to the surrounding community and asked what the people would like to see in district 2. With those ideas the volunteers gathered, the people would then go out and vote on several funded projects, the people would then vote to fund a community garden.

Kristen Mengell, the project coordinator, told Merced Daily “This is a space for gathering, learning, growing, harvesting food and coming together, everyone is welcome. We just ask the public to follow the general rules: Respect the garden, ask when things are ready to pick, and no one can be here after sunset.”

The 18th Street People’s Garden will be maintained by volunteers, according to Kristen.

The people’s budget would be the first on the County level in the United Sates, according to District 2 Supervisor Lee Lor.

The 18th Street People’s Garden is located at 936 W. 18th St. Merced.