Community Gardens

Community gardens are neighborhood green spaces set aside for local residents to grow vegetables for their own consumption, who otherwise might not be able to. The City of Gainesville began its first Community Gardens Project at Southeast Fourth Avenue in 1998. Since that time, the program has grown to five gardens around Gainesville through the joint efforts of the City of Gainesville's Parks, Recreation and Cultural Affairs Department and the dedicated efforts of the residents of Gainesville.

The program's mission is to provide a place where Gainesville residents can participate in a healthy outdoor activity that can also improve public nutrition and the neighborhood environment.

Five of our community gardens are recognized by the USDA as part of the People's Garden Initiative. The People’s Garden Initiative is part of USDA’s broader efforts to advance equity, support local and regional food systems and access to food, and encourage use of conservation and climate-smart practices.