Some of the concerns expressed included a fear of pedophiles congregating, traffic accidents, foot traffic inviting criminal activity, overwatering, and coyotes attacking children.

Says Haley-Coleman, “This was the first step in what could be a long process.” One attending resident expressed dismay by the hostile tone of the meeting. “I couldn’t believe some of the crazy comments - coyotes eating kids at night - wow!”

When the crowd settled, Howard Garrett began his presentation by complimenting Haley-Coleman. “Kimberly has done a great job of getting volunteers and funding to cover the infrastructure.”

Garrett then displayed the design mock-up of what the garden would look like and led an accompanying power point presentation.

He went on to explain with enthusiasm the guidelines that would be established from the onset of the garden. “There will be crops year-round that will include trees with edible flowers like pomagranite and persimmon. Also Jujube trees which have a high medicinal value, believed to alleviate stress."

"The garden will use 100% organic practices, have efficient composting modeled after Coppell’s foldable Shepherd Compost Bins, and create proper landscape bordering for a buffering effect."

Garrett also explained that there are plans for raised beds for senior citizens and lowered beds for kids, making it easy for everyone to participate. "Teaching would be a big part of the garden,” he says.

Amanda Vanhoozier then took the floor saying, “Opposition should be listened to, but I can tell you all that after 12 years, the Coppell Community Garden has changed peoples lives.”

She explained that the garden backs up to a school and they have plots that the children tend, many of them learning for the first time where their food comes from. Vanhoozier also cited the health benefits she’s seen in both gardeners and volunteers, and said that since the inception of the garden, 100,000 pounds of food has been donated to local food banks.

Despite the benefits of a community garden cited by Haley-Coleman, Garrett and Vanhoozier, the majority of the room was adamantly opposed to its installation on the proposed site. At one point, in an effort to add levity, Mr. Garrett turned around the mock-up on the easel, so the colorful garden design couldn’t be seen.

Another meeting, this one facilitated by the City of Dallas, is now scheduled for February 9th at 6:00 p.m., also at Winfrey Point.

According to John Jenkins with Parks and Recreation, it’s standard operating procedure that a community meeting be held at the behest of the city. “It doesn’t matter if it’s a playground, a soccer field or a garden that’s being proposed for use on city land. It’s our process to hold a community meeting.”

Originally there was to be only one meeting with several city officials scheduled to attend, but because the opposition made themselves known down at City Hall, the determination was made to host two separate forums.

Haley-Coleman, while frustrated, is by no means giving up on a community garden in the Lakewood/White Rock area.

“In retrospect I don’t know what we could have done differently," she said at the conclusion of the meeting. "This meeting was the caveat of the city - to gauge community feedback. Months ago we walked house to house, distributing flyers, leaving our contact information. No one got in touch with us until this meeting was nearing and then opposition suddenly came forward."

"Somehow folks missed the message that this was an informational meeting about a garden proposal and that we were looking into other locations and possibilities. This location was a proposal only. So I guess this meeting served its purpose."

Haley-Coleman is already moving forward to the possibility of a city owned parcel near the intersection of Winstead Drive and White Rock Road. Known as the old "Pea Patch," this open space was formerly used to produce crops for Dallas’ prison population. It already has electricity and water lines on the property, is more removed from residential structures, and has a playground nearby.

Says Haley-Coleman, “Even though it usually takes the City about a year to determine if a proposed site is suitable, we’ve already got a possible green light on this location. Of course it will take time, but we will establish another Community Garden in our northeast Dallas area.”

"After all, we don’t want a community garden someplace where the majority of neighbors don’t want it.”

The question begs asking, however. Is the majority really being represented here?

Photos below depict arial and site views of the Pea Patch near Winstead and White Rock Rd.