The North Royalton Community Garden is not only brimming with the summer’s bounty of fresh vegetables, but also with future plans and to top it off, another blue ribbon! They recently were awarded the 1st place Blue Ribbon at the Cuyahoga County Fair earlier this month. This year, they won over two other community gardens.
“We did very well once again this year 1st place Blue Ribbon win and $100,” said Garden Coordinator Dejana Cinquepalmi. “This is our 8th year participating and our 6th Blue Ribbon win over the years (the other two were 2nd place Red Ribbon $75). We are so excited to be able to represent our community garden and our city at the fair. Good Things always happen when people work together for a common goal, and our garden is proof of that. Not only at the Cuyahoga County Fair, but also in the daily interactions of our hard working, helpful and generous community garden members.”
Although this has not been a great gardening year, due to a very wet spring, members of the garden were still able to donate a portion of their harvest for the display. They also continue to donate back to the community. “The produce that is displayed at the fair does not go to waste,” noted Cinquepalmi, “good produce that has not gone bad, is given to the fair animals as a treat while they wait to get loaded up to go home.”
Below is a list of the previous garden entries:
2012 – Italian Picnic (Red/white checker pattern) – 1st Blue Ribbon $100
2013 – Grown in the USA (stars-stripes red-white-blue) – 1st Blue Ribbon $100
2014 – On the Farm (yellow/white checker pattern) – 1st Blue Ribbon $100
2015 – Where in the World did Your Food Come From (white with map) 2nd Red Ribbon $75
2016 – Bountiful Harvest – burlap background – 1st Blue Ribbon /$100
2017 – Harvest the Rainbow – Rainbow with rain + clouds – 1st Blue Ribbon $100
2018 – Something to Crow About – 2nd place Red Ribbon $75
2019 – Garden Fresh – green theme – 1st Blue Ribbon $100
Since the garden, since its inception has been very popular with residents, a waiting list is continually being maintained and updated. With that, there has been talk over the years about expanding the garden. Several years ago, there was a planned expansion, which was to take place with the assistance of an Eagle Scout project. Unfortunately, that did not take place. The garden committee is still hopeful for an expansion to take place and is discussing various potential layouts.
Mayor Bob Stefanik said that the house on the south side of the garden and the concrete pad on the north side of the garden will be demolished this month to help prepare for a future expansion. “We’re making it very easy for the work to be done. It will be ready to go after the demolition is complete,” said Stefanik.

By GLORIA PLEVA KACIK
Contributing Writer