Located between 42nd & 43rd east of Troost, Manheim Gardens is an inclusive community garden and green space in the urban core of Kansas City, Missouri. At almost 2 acres, the garden provides an enriching place for neighbors, children, and adults alike to learn, grow, play, and thrive.
As a 100% volunteer run 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, dedication and heart are at the core of everything we do. We offer growing space and free produce for neighbors, host community events and educational activities, and practice regenerative gardening and farming.
Nestled between The Paseo and Troost Avenue, the Historic Manheim Park neighborhood spans from 39th Street to Emanuel Cleaver II Boulevard at its northern and southern edges, respectively. Throughout the 1990s and 2000s, the 13 vacant lots on the 4200 block of Forest Avenue, presently Manheim Gardens, were used by neighbors as a community garden.
In 2016, amid concern over real estate speculation, community gardeners and members of the Historic Manheim Park Association (HMPA) formed the 501c3 Manheim Park Garden Conservancy (dba Manheim Gardens) in order to protect these greenspaces. Manheim Gardens raised $12,000 to purchase the land from Neighborhood Housing Services (NHS) before for-profit builders could out-bid neighborhood interests.
In 2019, renewed concern about unsustainable development prompted Manheim Park resident Scott Johnson to form the Manheim Community Land Trust (MCLT). Johnson and other neighbors established a land trust model, which allows residents to maintain affordable housing.
In 2021, Manheim Gardens entered into a partnership with MCLT to purchase a dilapidated house adjacent to the north edge of the community gardens in order to create a multi-purpose space to support garden operations, community gatherings, educational classes, and more. It started with a vision that the Garden House could mirror the activities of a home – a place to gather around friends, food, and shared ideas – while serving as the “front door” to seamlessly integrate the garden as a neighbor in the Manheim community. With that initial vision in mind, we sought stakeholder input through surveys and conversations with neighbors, community groups, and garden volunteers. The goal is to take an uninhabitable house and create a Vibrant Community Center.
There are many ways to get involved such as: Projects–There are always projects on the calendar to keep Manheim Gardens growing and welcoming our friends and neighbors. Projects like: repainting the chicken coop, building raised beds, replacing the greenhouse plastic on the hoop house…and working to bring our dream of the Garden House community center into being. Stewardship Sundays-You can find us in the garden Sundays from early spring through late fall. Join us for planting, harvesting, building healthy soil, weeding, mulching, and more. Drop by between 10-2 and any of our volunteers will be happy to fill you in on the goals for the day. Events Help-A lot goes into planning and pulling off a community event – work yes, but also lots of fun! We are always looking for people with energy and a love of community to help with event activities and set up/break down. Food, music, art & the company of awesome humans – what’s not to love?!
A perfect example of Manheim Gardens fulfilling their mission is the Spring Fling that the recently held in the gardens with a potluck, tree planting, plant swap, beautiful music, and a fire pit. For more information, go to their website https://manheimgardens.org/.
