CRANE CREEK RESTORATION PROJECT

823 Brothers Ave, Melbourne, FL 32905

FOOD FOREST

COMMUNITY SPACE

RESTORATION SITE

Visioning Exercise

Overview:

The Crane Creek Restoration Project is a project located on 0.49 acres at 823 Brothers Ave in Melbourne, FL. The site is currently a vacant site, with a vision of turning into a community food forest and restoration site. The site will include fruit trees, native and edible plants, raised garden beds, and stormwater retention features. The project will not only help increase access to freshly grown produce for families living in a food insecure area, but will support storm water mitigation and promote sustainable, healthy living. It will also teach the principles of environmental justice to the community who will learn about stormwater mitigation, permaculture principals, soil testing, and more.

Project Goals:

Draft Design Options:

Photos of Initial Schematic Design:

Improved access to fresh, healthy food through the installation of a food forest designed for long-term, perennial harvests.

Restored ecological function on a previously degraded, flood-prone site through nature-based solutions like native plantings and rainwater harvesting.

Reduced urban heat island effect by planting trees and vegetation to cool the landscape, provide shade, and create a more comfortable and livable microclimate on site.

Implementing a design that is community-led

Intergenerational education and empowerment

Stronger community resilience

Timeline and Status:

Preconstruction: Design and Permitting
- Start Date: 2023
- Estimated Completion: 2027
Implementation, Phase 1A: Features of work will include perimeter fence, well and well pump, fruit trees, native and edible plants, and raised garden beds.
- Start Date: 2026, Q3
- Estimated Completion: 2026, Q4
Implementation, Phase 1B: Features of work will include a ~600 sq ft covered pavillion, signage, and minor stormwater retetion features
- Start Date: 2026, Q3
- Estimated Completion: 2027, Q3
Implementation, Phase 2: Features of work will include a parking lot, 100 sq ft air conditioned office and meeting space, ADA accessible walking path
- Start Date: 2027, Q1
- Estimated Completion: 2028, Q4

Funding

THANK YOU to the following donors, sponsors and grant agencies for helping push this project forward:

Community Foundation for Brevard

National Fish and Wildlife Foundation

IRLNEP

Partners

THANK YOU to the following partners for helping push this project forward:

The Macedonia Community Development Corporation - landowners
Greater Allen Chapel - providing supporting principal structure for permit application
Nisbett Design - Technical Delivery Partner providing initial site design