Thomas Open Space

BACKGROUND:

In November 2005, voters passed a ballot issue that allowed the City of Lafayette to lease open space for farming purposes. This approval gave the green light to start working on plans for the farm, located on Thomas Open Space. 

In 2007, the City obtained free fill dirt to raise the area for the parking lot, farm stand and future barn.  An irrigation system was installed, and the farm stand made its initial opening and produced its first crops at Thomas Open Space that summer.

In the 2009 budget City Council approved for POST (Parks, Open Space and Trails .25% sales tax) funds to be utilized to construct a permanent farm facility on the parking pad at Thomas Open Space.  The new structure, whose construction was originally slated to commence toward the end of 2009, is to replace the temporary tent structure currently erected during the growing season.  In mid-2009 City Council approved to move forward with the design portion of the project.  However, due to budgetary constraints, the construction portion of the project was placed on hold by City Council until further notice.

After a formal and highly competitive proposal review process, City Council approved an agricultural lease with Isabelle Farm in January 2011.  The City is excited to have Isabelle Farm as a tenant and believes they will engergize citizen interest in locally grown food. 

At the August 16, 2011 City Council meeting the Thomas Open Space Barn project was approved unanimously by Council Members.  Construction of the monitor-style barn, which will serve for the lessee of Thomas Open Space as a retail, storage and processing space fitted with public restrooms, is now underway.  Completion of the barn is anticpated to be June 1, 2012.