In late July, despite the blazing summer heat a group of about a dozen volunteers helped complete Friendship Garden.

Friendship Garden is located in the northeast corner of Giovanni Caboto Park, near the Boys and Girls Club. The project is a partnership of the McCauley Community League and City of Edmonton.

Volunteers shovelled and hauled mulch, landscaped, and planted numerous shrubs and trees. Benches and logs will be coming soon to provide sitting areas.

“The vision for the garden is for people to sit and enjoy the plants,” says Liz John-West, who, along with her husband Geoff, have been on the park’s revitalization committee. Although the family has moved from the McCauley area, they have volunteered countless hours on the Friendship Garden project.

Plants were provided by Zocalo. The 78 trees and shrubs include: Trembling Aspens, chokecherries, Saskatoons, highbush cranberries, Pin cherries, Prickly Roses, gooseberries, raspberries, and blueberries. The plan for the garden was drafted by City park planner Frank Gasparik.

Friendship Garden is the final phase of revitalization for Giovanni Caboto Park.