The First Sketch for the Grant Street Community Garden

1st Sketch for the community garden by Jimaune Williams and Sasha Tillett

Over the last several months, neighbors, long-time residents, church members, and volunteers from Monument of Faith Church have met nearly 6 times to dream about what a future community garden space on Grant Street could become. 🌿

Together, the community has shared ideas, stories, hopes, memories, and practical needs for the space — intentionally centering residential input from the people who live, worship, gather, and have deep roots in this neighborhood. Those conversations are now beginning to take shape in the form of our first draft sketch for the Grant Street Community Garden, a project being developed in partnership with Monument of Faith Church.

As of May 5th, the first draft sketch is officially underway.

From the beginning, the vision has been larger than simply growing food.

Neighbors described a beautiful and welcoming “third space” where people can gather, rest, sit together, tell stories, cook, laugh, learn, and reconnect with one another. Elders emphasized the importance of flowers and beauty. Others imagined raised beds for growing food, spaces for children to play, bird feeders and butterfly plants, long community tables, hanging lights, shaded seating, and areas for Bible studies, small groups, celebrations, and neighborhood gatherings.

Ideas shared by the community also included:
🌸 flowers and pollinator plants
🪑 benches, gathering spaces, and shaded seating
📚 a little free library and neighborhood storytelling elements
🧒🏾 family-friendly features like a sandbox and open play space
🐦 bird feeders and nature-centered design
💧 permanent water access and thoughtful land preparation
🛠️ volunteer build days and shared stewardship opportunities
📅 a community events board with neighborhood updates and ways to get involved

There was also strong encouragement to ensure the garden remains deeply connected to the history and legacy of Hayti and Grant Street — potentially including educational signage, storytelling features, and naming the garden after a historical Black figure or beloved community member.

This sketch is only the first draft and the final design is still underway. The project will likely be developed in phases as we continue identifying funding sources, partnerships, volunteers, and long-term infrastructure needs for the space.

We’re grateful for everyone who has shared ideas, attended meetings, walked the lot with us, dreamed out loud, and helped shape this vision together. What’s emerging is not simply a garden, but a community space rooted in beauty, belonging, memory, and collective care. 🌱

The final sketch has been developed and will be reviewed by the community at the next monthly meeting. We look forward to seeing you there!

— The Grant Street Community