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Will the Grossmont-Cuymaca Community College District or the Water Conservation Garden Joint Powers Authority step in to operate the Garden?
By Miriam Raftery
February 16, 2024 (Rancho San Diego) – The Water Conservation Garden at Cuyamaca College, a treasured community destination, has closed temporarily amid efforts to reorganize under new leadership.
“As we celebrate our 25th anniversary this year, we will be undergoing major structural changes,” interim executive director Lauren Magnuson announced in an email sent to media and supporters of the Garden. “A reopening date will be announced in the future...The Garden is committed to reopening and continuing its mission to educate and inspire the community to promote water conservation,” she concluded, adding, “We look forward to welcoming you back soon with a renewed and thriving Water Conservation Garden experience!”
The temporary closure announcement follows months of financial concerns stemming primarily from large loans taken out by the Garden’s former director, Jennifer Pillsbury, during and after COVID.
Those loans total over $1 million and include a Small Business Association COVID loan, a Mission Funded Finance loan that is past due, and a loan from the Grossmont Cuyamaca Community College District. Pillsbury alone signed for the loans, though bylaws for Friends of the Water Conservation requires two signatures and Friends' agreement with the Water Conservation Garden's Joint Powers Authority prohibit loans beyond the term of the JPA;s contract with the Garden,which ends in June.(View ECM’s prior coverage here and here.)
Those loans have left the nonprofit Friends of the Water Conservation Garden, which has been operating the garden, financially encumbered. Friends had anticipated receiving nearly a quarter million dollar federal Employee Retention Credit and retained employees in good faith, but the federal government froze all ERC credits, exacerbating the financial issues. Though ERC funds have recently been unfrozen and that money is anticipated to come in during the next few months, the Garden has run out of operating funds, even after furloughing employees and drastically slashing costs.
Discussions are now underway for a different entity to take over operation of the Garden. Prospects include the Grossmont-Cuyamaca Community College District or the Water Conservation Joint Powers Authority (JPA), which includes as members Helix and Otay water districts, Sweetwater Authority, the city of San Diego, San Diego County Water Authority, and the Grossmont Cuyamaca Community College District.
Or a new nonprofit entity could be formed to operate and/or raise funds for Garden operations and programs in the future.
JPA member Katheen Hedberg, also a director in the Helix Water District, posted on Facebook in reaction to news of the Garden’s closure, “I will, as your Helix Water District representative, work hard to ensure that it will not be closed for long; we will restructure operations.
The Garden’s army of around100 volunteers have voiced eagerness to help, but cannot do so until a new entity can provide insurance for the facility.
The Tomatomania event slated for March 8-9 at the Garden will instead be moved to the Mission Hills Nursery in San Diego, Tomatomania organizers announced. The Spring Garden Festival has also been cancelled for this year, as well as educational programs such as "Ms. Smarty-Plants", water conservation educational courses for adutls, and popular wellness classes, such as yoga.
On the Garden’s Facebook page, members of the public voiced concerns, fond memories, and hopes that the Garden can survive and thrive.
“This place is very special to me,” Elisabeth Adkins posted. I spent some of my dad’s last days walking the garden with him. He loved it there. My children also have very fond memories of running the paths during COVID.”
Similarly, Couirtney Ware wrote, ”My kiddos love it there. Been bringing them since my oldest could walk.”
Mary Anne Murphy-Clagett called the Garden “a gem” and voiced confidence that it “will open again.”
“I am beyond gutted by this,” Susannah Koffman wrote. “This place is a treasure and one I walk in every weekend and during school vacations. Please let us know how we can help to keep this open.”
A new fund is expected to be established soon. For now, anyone who wants to support the Garden can donate to its Survive and Thrive fund at https://www.classy.org/campaign/survive-and-thrive-2023/c542253.
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