During weekday afternoons this summer, teens and volunteers are working on a community garden at 301 N. First St. in Champaign ­— a plot of land that was undeveloped just over two weeks ago and is now sporting fresh vegetables.

Named the North First Street Prosperity Garden, the garden will be kept up by participants Monday through Thursday, said Sonya Lynch, Program Director of Prevention Services for the Don Moyers Boys and Girls Club, 201 E. Park St., in Champaign.

On June 1, members of the Champaign City Council voted unanimously in favor of a bill that allowed the Boys and Girls Club to use the city-owned land for a community garden. The bill also called for a $15,000 grant from the city’s Urban Development Action Grant funds to go toward the project.

“(The participants are) working hard; they’re learning to work hard,” Lynch said. “Some of them really enjoy it, but the other ones are gradually falling into place.”

A collaboration between the Boys and Girls Club and other local organizations, including the University of Illinois Extension and the North First Street Farmers Market, the raised-bed garden is maintained by volunteers and members of the Boys and Girls Club, including teenagers in JUMP ­— Juvenile Upward Mobility Program — for at-risk youth.

Champaign City Planner T.J. Blakeman said members of the North First Street Business Organization had been looking into establishing a garden in the area for months. The plans took root and the planting boxes were finally installed June 7.

“The project really didn’t go anywhere until we finally linked up with Boys and Girls Club and Sonya,” said Blakeman, who also serves on the garden’s planning board and personally helps the Boys and Girls Club keep up the garden.

“The city’s excited about it because it’s an opportunity, number one, to use a vacant piece of land,” Blakeman said. “But number two, it really serves to help not only bolster the mission of Boys and Girls Club, but to also provide a wonderful amenity that the neighborhood can take ownership of and feel pride over.”

Participants have planted bell peppers, eggplants, tomatoes and banana peppers.

Other plans for the garden include a gazebo and outdoor classroom.

“I love to garden, and it’s great exposure for the kids to teach them something new: healthy eating,” Lynch said.

Sandy Mason, horticulture educator for the University’s Extension in Champaign County, said the Extension initially became involved when the garden was originally organized to be a program for adults.

The Extension’s Master Gardeners have been involved in the labor that went into setting up the garden, Mason said.

“It’s fabulous, all that’s been done,” Mason said, adding that Extension is hoping to provide the participants with educational programs on planting. “It’s a win-win for everybody involved.”

Along with tilling the soil and picking the vegetables, Lynch said some of the children will be learning entrepreneurial skills when they sell these vegetables at the North First Street Farmers Market, which takes place just south of the garden every Thursday this summer from 3 to 7 p.m.

“There are going to be kids selling at the farmers market eventually,” Lynch said. “We’re growing it, and since we started kind of later in the season, we probably won’t get to the farmers market for a couple more weeks.”

Carle Foundation Hospital, the Junior League and the City of Champaign are among those who have funded the garden, but Lynch said they could still use help.

“We’re looking for volunteers and more donations because we’re going one phase at a time as we build up,” Lynch said.