Located in downtown Madison, Wisconsin, Crowley Station Community Garden is a collection of raised beds on the concrete platform that tops city well #17. CSCG grew out of the work of Downtown Community Garden Group in the First Settlement Neighborhood and was initially funded by the Madison Water Utility in 2014.

In 2024, the work of the Lakefront Porch Committee and partners in the community and the City of Madison over many years culminated in the creation of a new urban pocket park on the Crowley Station platform. The Lakefront Porch Park transformed Crowley Station with a raised deck, new tables, seating, and umbrellas for shade. The elevation of the deck allows visitors to see Lake Monona over the railings that edge the Crowley Station platform. Ramps provide access to both levels of the platform.

CSCG received new garden beds as the result of the generous efforts of the Lakefront Porch Committee. When the platform became the Lakefront Porch Park, the CSCG found itself located within the Lakefront Porch Park. 

How the Crowley Station Community Garden Works

Each household is assigned a garden bed, and gardeners work together on common tasks and to maintain garden infrastructure.  Members are encouraged to get to know their garden neighbors and create a community with each other.

CSCG maintains a waitlist, and gardeners are recruited from the waitlist when garden beds become available.  Because CSCG is a small garden in a public location, every gardener is expected to actively maintain their garden bed and to participate in shared tasks to stay in good standing. 

The Becky Selleck Memorial Garden Bed

One garden bed is dedicated to the garden’s first Educational Director, Becky Selleck, who passed away in 2015. The leadership team cares for this garden bed and determines how the produce from the bed will be allocated.  Examples include donating to a local food pantry and making samples available to garden visitors.

Benefits to a Community Garden Membership

  • An excuse to spend time in the fresh air and sunshine.
  • Connections by joining with neighbors in gardening efforts.
  • Opportunity to serve as a community leader on the Leadership Team.
  • Ability to grow your own food.