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Sand City's predominantly industrial/shopping center composition might seem an unnatural place for green open spaces, but City Council on Tuesday approved plans to create a community garden on Dias Ave. and Hickory St., just across the street from city hall, on city property.

"I think our city really really needs this," says Susan Collins, a painter who's lived in Sand City for 20 years and is known in the community as Suzka. She presented the idea for a community garden to neighbors a few months ago, gathering more than 100 petition signatures to present to City Council, and since then, "It just grew, literally by itself," Collins says.

What's most exciting for Collins so far is the eagerness of neighboring businesses to contribute in-kind services and donate parts for building a two-tiered garden on a sloped 5000-square-foot plot, with granite and pipes coming in for free. City Council unanimously voted to contribute $5,000 toward the construction, water and electricity for the project.

"I think it’s going to be a garden more for people even than plants," Collins says. "I think it’s just going to be a wonderful place to sit and do a little gardening and watering and talking and listening and meditating."

And in Collins' estimation, unilateral support for the garden shows a growing eco-sensibility in Sand City. "We’re not just this little industrial town," she says.

Garden organizers have an ambitious timeline. They expect the space to be completely built in time for the West End Celebration, Aug. 26-28.