GARDEN PLOTS Profile
The Ron Ory Community Garden Plots are available for rent each year to both residents and nonresidents. Starting in 2025, gardeners had two options to choose from – Seasonal Plots rentable from May to mid-October and Year- Round Plots rentable from May-April. Construction for improvements based on the 2022 Garden Plots Master Site Plan began in September 2025 with the addition of a permeable paver parking lot being installed on the east side, drainage improvements on the south and north sides, and brand new and additional raised planting beds increasing from 12 beds to 25. In 2025, several plots were removed to accommodate the expansion of the raised planting beds along with several plots placed on hold for gardeners due to the construction buffer zone. The gardeners renting in the construction buffer zone were given the option to move to another location for 2025. Due to this undertaking, fewer
plots than usual were available for rent. However, 99% of the 484 available plots were rented. The rental distribution among plots included: 311 full- sized seasonal plots, 74 seasonal half-sized plots, 12 seasonal raised plots, and 87 year-round plots (81 full, 6 half). Despite renting 45 fewer plots than the previous year, garden plots revenues were slightly higher in 2025, compared to 2024, by approximately 2% or $488. Revenues for the Garden Plots include fees paid to rent the plots. Expenditures include wages, general supplies, contractual services for port-o-lets and yard waste removal, biannual plowing, postage, and printing. Garden Plots rental fees increased by $3 to $4 in 2025 and will increase by an additional $3 to $4 in 2026. An increase in fees is necessary due to increased costs for contractual services and supplies and the addition of a part-time coordinator to assist with managing daily garden plots operations. The proposed 2026 revenue reflects
the $3 to $4 increase in fees and is based on a formula using resident rates. The Garden Plots section of the District’s budget also includes the Shred Event and new Earth Month Naperville activities, which took place at the nature center in 2025. The Shred Event, which was held in April in collaboration with the Naperville Police Department, collected 21,360 pounds of paper this year; this was a slight decrease from 2024, but the event still accommodated 708 vehicles. This successful community event is scheduled to take place again in 2026. The Earth Month Naperville activities were held daily during open hours in the nature center exhibit area from April 7- 30. Topics included natural resources, upcycling, hydropower, solar energy and wind energy. Attendance during Earth Month Naperville was similar to regular attendance in 2024 and patrons were appreciative of the activities offered; a similar event will be offered again in 2026.
GARDEN PLOTS FINAL 2023 FINAL 2024 BUDGET 2025 PROJECTIONS 2025 BUDGET 2026 2026 VS. 2025 PROJ %
2026 VS. 2025 BUDGET %
REVENUE Rental Income
22,637 2,005
23,107
25,258
23,595
26,019
2,424 10%
761
3% 0% 0% -1%
Alternative Revenue
900
-
- -
- -
- -
0% 0%
-
Miscellaneous Total Revenue
-
-
900
(900) (139)
24,642
24,007
26,158
23,595
26,019
2,424
10%
EXPENSES Wages & Benefits
-
1,827
2,500 1,600 18,578 22,678 $3,480
2,687
2,900 1,200 19,552 23,652 $2,367
213 372 590 1,175
8%
400
0%
Supplies
2,447
846
828
45%
(400) -25%
Contractual Services Total Expenditures
15,020 17,467 $7,175
18,740 21,413 $2,594
18,962 22,477
3% 5%
974 974
5% 4%
Surplus/(Deficit)
$1,118
$1,249 112%
($1,113) -32%
2026 BUDGET 58
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