In a controversial move, members of Seattle, Washington's Parks and Recreation department, accompanied by city police, dismantled a community garden that had been established in Cal Anderson Park during the Black Lives Matter protests in 2020. The city officials justified their actions by stating that the garden was temporary and had to be removed due to public health and safety concerns, as well as for maintenance purposes such as reseeding and turf restoration. Furthermore, the removal efforts also extended to tent encampments located near the garden and along E. Olive Street, with the intention of ensuring cleanliness and accessibility of public spaces for all individuals.

Cal Anderson Park has become a focal point for the city's Unified Care Team, which has already cleaned up encampments in the park a staggering 76 times this year. This makes the park one of the most frequently addressed areas in Seattle for repopulated encampments, according to city officials. The presence of the temporary garden has been blamed for creating unsafe conditions in the park, including incidents of vandalism in public bathrooms, drug use in public, unauthorized camping, and an increasing rodent population.

The removal of the garden and encampments had been planned since October, as reported by The Seattle Times. However, the city faced opposition from the Black Star Farmers, a group that had been caring for the garden. The group collected over 5,000 signatures in a petition against the removal, arguing that the garden served as a memorial to Black and Indigenous people killed by the police. Supporters of the garden also emphasized its role in providing community members with a space for joy and healing, as various plants like amaranth, tobacco, corn, currants, and strawberries flourished there.

Seattle Parks defended their decision to remove the garden, stating that the park needed to be available for other purposes. The park's location in the “Sun Bowl” area makes it suitable for gatherings and events, and it is conveniently situated near electrical and water hookups. Construction vehicles guarded by park rangers and police were observed by supporters of the garden as they witnessed the dismantling of the park. One bystander expressed surprise at the lack of notice given for the removal but managed to salvage some of the plants.

Seattle Parks claimed to have engaged with park visitors, neighbors, adjacent businesses, and community activists since 2020 to discuss the garden's future. They offered alternative locations within the park, but none were deemed acceptable by the garden's organizers. The city expressed its commitment to ongoing dialogue in order to find an alternative site for the garden.

Various community leaders, including council member-elect Joy Hollingsworth, weighed in on the garden's removal. Hollingsworth emphasized the importance of maintaining safe, clean, and welcoming parks, describing Cal Anderson Park as the "living room of Capitol Hill" and a vital focal point for the city. However, some individuals, such as Katrina Johnson, a cousin of Charleena Lyles who was fatally shot by Seattle police officers, were not even aware of the garden's existence. Johnson criticized the garden's organizers for failing to reach out to the families affected by police violence and accused them of exploiting their pain for personal gain.

Darrell Powell, president of the Seattle, King County NAACP, expressed disappointment with how the garden had deviated from its original purpose as a memorial for Black lives lost to police violence. Powell asserted that the Black community was unaware of the garden's existence and that it did not adequately represent the vast number of Black lives extinguished due to police violence. The Seattle-King County NAACP stood in solidarity with Mayor Bruce Harrell and his administration in their efforts to establish a more meaningful and representative memorial for these lives.

In summary, the removal of the community garden in Cal Anderson Park has sparked controversy in Seattle. While city officials cited public health and safety concerns, maintenance needs, and the desire to repurpose the park, supporters of the garden argue that it serves as a memorial and a source of healing for the community. The ongoing dialogue between the city and garden organizers highlights the need for a resolution that addresses both the concerns of the city and the desires of those who see the garden as a symbol of remembrance and resilience.