Paradise Garden

Contact Information: Email Garden Leader Pat Hart at patahart45@gmail.com
Address: 652 N Latrobe Ave
Neighborhood/Community Area: Austin
Garden Established: 1989
Protected by NeighborSpace: 1998
Social Media/Website: 
Facebook: @austingreenteam1 
Community Partners: The Austin Green Team

About the Garden: 
Paradise Garden wasn’t always a “paradise.” In fact, the property once housed an abandoned building that the neighborhood children had to pass on their way to school. After a 14-year old girl was raped at the site, Mary Peery decided things had to change – for the sake of those school children. Mary’s determination, together with the support from others, was instrumental in making this Austin’s first community garden.

The Austin Green Team was formed as a result of this and they now maintain over a dozen gardens in the community. The Team consists of 15-20 members, some of whom meet religiously on a monthly basis. The team members originally came together because of their common interest in wanting to beautify the community. Due to the Team’s efforts, the neighbors living around these gardens in over a dozen different areas in Austin started to take note of their work and began doing a little more on their own properties.

The Austin Green Team brought pride to their neighborhood and the money collected from their fundraisers goes right back into the gardens. Over the years, their gardens have provided beauty as well as a gathering place for Christmas caroling or a moment of contemplation.