WESTBROOK – One of the newest developments at the Fred C. Wescott Building, otherwise known as the Westbrook Community Center on Bridge Street, will not even be inside the building.

Volunteers and potential tenants will be taking to the grounds around the building Saturday to build the first-ever Westbrook Community Garden. The garden will serve as a place for local residents who don’t have space for a garden to come and grow things, according to Martha O’Connor, who is coordinating the effort.

The bulk of the garden will consist of 122 “raised beds,” or large planters akin to large flower boxes, where people can rent a space to grow whatever they want, be it vegetables, fruits or even flowers. Members pay a one-time $10 membership fee, and $20 per season to rent a bed. O’Connor said anyone who spends four hours or more volunteering for the bed-building event on Saturday can waive the $10 membership fee.

In addition to the beds, O’Connor said, small greenhouses will also be built, to house seedlings prior to planting.

O’Connor said the garden has gotten a huge boost from the Home Depot, which has given a $23,355 grant to the city’s Parks and Recreation Department. O’Connor said a large portion of the money will go toward building materials, hardware, tools and other supplies.

“Giving back is one of our core values at the Home Depot and a passion for our associates,” said Jennifer King, senior manager of public relations for Home Depot’s northern division. “We are dedicated to giving back in the communities where our associates live and work.”

In addition to the grant, King said, 150 Team Depot volunteers from five neighborhood Home Depot stores will be participating in Saturday’s event.

O’Connor said other local businesses are helping, too, such as Subway and Full Court Press. Pike Industries, she said, will also be donating 20 tons of crushed stone to the project. O’Connor is also reaching out to local youth groups and service groups who might want to get involved.

“We’re really just hoping to get a good start here,” she said.

Mayor Colleen Hilton said she hopes to see local residents taking part in the event.

“It’s a great story about community investment,” Hilton said.

But O’Connor stressed that it’s not just about tomatoes and carrots. She hopes the garden will be a place for the public to build relationships and community.

“If you’re new to the area, this may be a fun way to meet people,” she said.

O’Connor said the garden is a great way to grow healthy, fresh foods to eat, or to donate to local causes. O’Connor said the Westbrook Food Pantry will gladly accept donations of fresh produce from the garden.

O’Connor said she has seen similar gardens in many other communities, and they have been huge successes there.

“It’s just remarkable to me that we didn’t have one in Westbrook,” she said.