Save Harrison Park Community Garden

We have created a petition urging Portland Public Schools Board of Education to reconsider their decision to permanently close the Harrison Park Community Garden. We invite you to add your signature and join us in preserving this valuable neighborhood resource.

Come to the School Board Meeting on June 13th at 6pm to stand in support of this petition. Bring friends, bring signs. 501 N. Dixon St. Email letters opposing the closure of the garden to PublicComment@pps.net

Put up signs opposing the closure, at the garden!

Your support is crucial in our efforts to save the Harrison Park Community Garden. We also encourage you to share this petition with others who share our commitment to community and sustainability.

Thank you for your time and dedication to our shared cause.

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Contact Information
Testimony

 

The garden is at risk of permanent closure, and we fear the loss of a vital community resource and access to much needed green space.

As you may be aware, Portland Public Schools has made the decision to permanently close the Harrison Park Community Garden, with demolition starting around July 3rd. This decision has raised concerns among resident gardeners, community members, and staff at APANO Communities United Fund(Asian Pacific American Network of Oregon) and Grow Portland who recognize the garden's integral role in the Jade District community. Green spaces have been consistently identified as a pressing need in our neighborhood, and unfortunately, the lack of access to such spaces has had tangible effects on the health and well-being of our community members. 

The Harrison Park Community Garden serves as a haven for diverse cultural communities, including growing Asian, African & African Immigrant, Indigenous, Hispanic, Pacific Islander, and Slavic populations. It is a place where residents grow culturally specific varieties of produce that are often unavailable in Portland. And lower-income residents have an opportunity to access healthy and nutritious foods. It also serves as a gathering space, fostering connections and creating a sense of community.

The construction of a new school building on the property is being used as a reason for closure, but through connections to the design process, we know that the site's landscape has actually been designed to be able to preserve the gardens and allow them to even stay open through construction. 

We have created a petition urging the Portland Public Schools Board of Education to reconsider their decision. We invite you to add your signature and join us in preserving this valuable resource.