2004 Bywater Home Tour

ALPHA GARDEN

The first community garden in New Orleans, founded by BNA members Lee Orr, Bob Finnan and Catherine Finnan. What started as an effort to transform an overgrown lot into a productive vegetable garden in the 800 block of Bartholomew developed into a co-operative effort with the Department of Parks and Parkways and its associated nonprofit, the Parkway Partners Program, to develop a model program.

Established in 1991, the Community Gardens Project of Parkway Partners in New Orleans, Louisiana works in partnership with neighbor-hood residents to transform vacant and neglected inner-city lots into productive gardens and community gathering spots. To date, there are over 150 gardens (including 50 schoolyard gardens) throughout the City of New Orleans. Such gardens exemplify the success of converting urban eyesores into vegetable and flower gardens, herb farms, youth gardens, and green spaces. The Project not only improves and beautifies the community, but also fights crime and blight by creating a venue for positive neighborhood activity, providing economic opportunity and new leadership structures for future revitalization efforts. This project by Parkway Partners has recently been awarded Mutual of America's 2003 Community Partnership Award.

Although Alpha Garden is now privately owned, additional community gardens in Bywater include De La Soil, the Front Stoop Garden in the 700 block of Alvar Street, and the Brother Andre Garden-a Margaret Orr Garden of the Month-located in the 3500 block of N. Rampart behind Holy Angels