Project team

Head: Cleveland Urban Minority Alcoholism & Drug Abuse Outreach Program (UMADAOP).

Partners:  East High School.

Project description and goals

The project proposes a community garden providing a place of peace and tranquility for neighboring residents, hence: a Peace Garden. The goal is to fulfill the desire of residents to have an established sense of place of their own without having to leave the neighborhood.  Also, the community garden will serve as a venue from which creative outlets can be fostered, including but not limited to poetry slams and music concerts.

Existing conditions

The garden is to be constructed on four parcels located on the western side of E. 79th St.  The parcels (105-33-055, 105-33-056, 105-33-057, 105-33-058) in total measure 16,850 square feet, and are owned by the city land bank. The lots historically have attracted both the dumping of inoperable vehicles as well as illegal activity.  Since, the abandoned cars have been removed, yet the lot(s) still attracts heavy amounts of garbage and debris.  Spatially, the lot abuts a residence to the south and a retail store to the north.  Also, the UMADAOP is headquartered directly across the street, as is an existing garden created and maintained by the project lead.

Proposed interventions

The site’s conversion will be comprised of a labyrinth as well as three inner-garden sites.  The gardens will have seating, and will allow for a space from which residents can sit and reflect; while the labyrinth—proposed to be 60 ft in diameter and constructed of pavers—will wind through the gardens, allowing for a meditative path. Also, the space will allow educational opportunities for both in- and out-of-school youth. Specifically, both high school youth and UMADAOP-affiliated youth will be trained as guide tours for various groups interested in learning about the history and purpose of meditative paths in general.

Site maintenance

Short-term, the site needs to be excavated, graded, and seeded.  After various installations, the site must be regularly manicured, including weeding of the garden as well as clean-up of the site after organized community events.  A volunteer schedule will be maintained, with volunteers existing of UMADAOP-affiliated out-of-school youth and members of the community.