The City of Gary is attempting to evict the Gary Food Council and its partners from the beloved community garden and Food Forest at 22nd and Broadway. Since 2018, hundreds of volunteers have cultivated this once-neglected space, planting vegetables, herbs, flowers, and fruit and nut trees. This vibrant hub not only nourishes residents but also honors the history of the site, where Dr. Frederick McMitchell, founder of St. John’s Hospital, once held his clinic.

Over the years, this space has hosted dozens of community events, conversations, and family-friendly activities filled with music, art, and fellowship. It has become a place of pride, connection, and healing for Historic Midtown. Volunteers have worked tirelessly to celebrate and preserve the cultural and historical legacy of the neighborhood.

Now, in an act of troubling overreach, the Mayor’s office is demanding the garden be relocated—without offering a clear plan for the land or recognizing the invaluable role it plays in addressing food insecurity, environmental health, and youth development. This decision disregards the tens of thousands of grant dollars brought into the city through this space, which has supported local youth interns and community-led initiatives.

Instead of supporting grassroots revitalization, the city is sending a message that residents’ hard work and dedication are not respected, that food justice, community wellness, and local history are not a priority.

With hundreds of other vacant lots nearby, why is this community project being targeted?

We call on the City of Gary to immediately halt the eviction and engage in transparent, good-faith dialogue with community stakeholders, providing support to those who are working to improve their neighborhoods, not sideline them for vague and uncertain plans.

This space belongs to the people. Let’s protect it together.