In a recent development, the Seattle Parks and Recreation department, in collaboration with city police, has taken down a community garden that was established as part of the Black Lives Matter protests in 2020, from Cal Anderson Park. City officials have cited public health and safety concerns, as well as the need for maintenance, as the primary reasons behind this action.

According to a statement issued by city officials, the garden was described as "makeshift" and temporary, necessitating its removal for maintenance purposes such as reseeding and turf restoration. This endeavor also involved the dismantling of tent encampments situated near the garden and along E. Olive Street outside the park to ensure the cleanliness and accessibility of public spaces for all residents.

The Unified Care Team of the City of Seattle has already undertaken 76 clean-ups of encampments at Cal Anderson Park this year, making it one of the most frequently addressed areas in the city with regard to repopulated encampments, as stated by city authorities.

The city officials further emphasized that the temporary garden had created hazardous conditions for park-goers. Instances of vandalism in public bathrooms, public drug use, unauthorized camping, and an increasing rodent population are some of the incidents that have been reported.

Seattle Parks had planned the removal of the garden since October, but encountered resistance from the Black Star Farmers, a group responsible for tending to the garden. As a mark of their opposition, the group gathered over 5,000 signatures from individuals against the removal, arguing that the garden serves as a tribute to Black and Indigenous people who have lost their lives at the hands of the police.

Black Star Farmers also claimed that the park provides community members with a space for joy, healing, and growth, as various plants, including amaranth, tobacco, corn, currants, and strawberries, thrive in the garden.

Nevertheless, Seattle Parks stood firm in their decision, stating that the garden needed to be removed to make way for other purposes within the park. Witnesses reported observing the construction vehicles guarded by park rangers and police as they dismantled the garden, with minimal prior notice.

Seattle Parks clarified that they had engaged with park visitors, neighboring residents, and adjacent business owners since 2020 to discuss the relocation of the garden within the park. They acknowledged receiving significant feedback expressing a desire for an alternative garden site. The department has also maintained communication with community activists since 2020, presenting alternative locations for the garden. However, none of the proposed locations were deemed acceptable by the garden's organizers.

The city assured the public of its commitment to an ongoing dialogue aimed at establishing an alternative garden site. Council member-elect Joy Hollingsworth weighed in on the matter, expressing the importance of maintaining safe, clean, and welcoming park spaces.

"Cal Anderson Park is the living room of Capitol Hill and a focal point of our city," stated Hollingsworth. "It's important that we prioritize sanitary conditions within shared public spaces so that our neighborhoods can continue to flourish."

Some members of the community were not aware of the existence of the garden dedicated to victims of police deadly force, including Katrina Johnson, cousin of Charleena Lyles, who was tragically shot and killed by Seattle police officers. Johnson expressed her dissatisfaction, stating, "To make a garden without reaching out to the families and even letting them know about it tells me that this is not about our loved ones but about folks hijacking the movement and trying to make a name for themselves off of our pain, and that is simply not okay."

Darrell Powell, president of the Seattle, King County NAACP, remarked that the garden was intended to serve as a memorial for Black lives lost to police violence. However, he noted that it had deviated from its original purpose: "The Black community is unaware of the existence of the garden, and the garden does not represent, in any meaningful sense, the vast number of Black lives extinguished by police violence," Powell stated. He expressed the support of the Seattle-King County NAACP for Mayor Bruce Harrell and his administration in establishing a true representation of the Black lives lost due to police violence.

As the debate continues, the future of the community garden in Cal Anderson Park remains uncertain, with city officials emphasizing the need for alternative garden sites and ongoing dialogue with community stakeholders.