Richmond Opened Universally Accessible Community Garden
The new green space on the Richmond Greenway features 13 plant beds designed for residents of all ages and mobility levels.
Updated on Oct. 12, 2026 in Gardening
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Urban Tilth has opened the Joe Lee Fisher Sr. Universally Accessible Community Garden on the Richmond Greenway. The project was created to provide a fully inclusive outdoor space for residents of all ability levels, featuring wide paths and water stations for service dogs.
Why it matters
The garden serves as a permanent, accessible community resource that provides fresh produce to locals via free farm stands at Unity Plaza. It honors the legacy of local leader Joe Lee Fisher Sr. while directly addressing the needs of older residents and those with disabilities.
The city-funded project utilizes a $955,044 Transformative Climate Communities grant to maintain 13 plant beds. Design requirements were finalized after Urban Tilth surveyed over 100 older residents and people with disabilities.
The players
Urban Tilth
A local organization that has operated for 21 years with a focus on cultivating community health and sustainable food access.
Doria Robinson
A City Council member who was fined $400 by the Fair Political Practices Commission regarding the grant vote for the project.
Joe Lee Fisher Sr.
A local leader whose life and community contributions are honored by the naming of this accessible garden.
Kellman Construction
The local building firm responsible for the physical construction of the garden's paths and plant beds.
The details
To ensure maximum accessibility, the garden features wide paths suitable for wheelchairs and dedicated water stations for service dogs. Kellman Construction completed the build based on feedback from local residents, while volunteers handled the initial planting of the beds. Produce harvested from the site will be distributed to the community through free farm stands at Unity Plaza.
Timeline
August 2023: The city awarded the $955,044 grant for the garden project.
July 2026: Local leader Joe Lee Fisher Sr. passed away.
September 29, 2026: The community garden officially opened on the Richmond Greenway.
The Home Front
This project follows the funding guidelines established by the Transformative Climate Communities grant to convert local land into usable public space. It marks a shift toward prioritizing universally accessible infrastructure in municipal green-space developments.
Residents can visit the new garden on the Richmond Greenway to access fresh produce from upcoming farm stands at Unity Plaza. You may also want to monitor the Urban Tilth official site for future volunteer opportunities or schedule updates as they look to add new features.
The takeaway
The new garden offers a vital, accessible model for community food security that prioritizes inclusion for all ages and ability levels. Keep an eye on local announcements for the upcoming schedule of farm stand distributions at Unity Plaza.
Further reading
Find more tips on creating inclusive outdoor spaces in our Gardening section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Richmond Confidential.
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