About
Paradise Parking Plots Community Garden is a two-acre former parking lot that exists to provide refugees and immigrants in South King County with opportunities to grow culturally familiar foods, connect with others, and have space for kids and families to engage with the outdoors.
Program Details
Paradise Parking Plots Community Garden in Kent, WA is a two-acre former parking lot transformed into a thriving community space. A project of World Relief Western Washington in partnership with Hillside Church, it unites refugees, immigrants, and local residents from over 30 countries to grow culturally meaningful foods, thus improving health, food access, and economic independence while building community. The space is also a premier example of community-based green stormwater infrastructure, diverting thousands of gallons of stormwater runoff annually through our five rain gardens, bioswale, removing 20,000sqft of impermeable asphalt, and five 4,000gallon rainwater cisterns.
Future plans involve building out a Kid’s Learning and Play Zone, expanding the plot size to begin training new immigrant market gardeners, expanding environmental education offerings, and completing a native restoration of the remaining 0.5 acres surrounding the garden area.
Services Offered
- Community garden plot rentals
- Free gardening and food preservation classes
- Seeds, tools, and plant starts
- Environmental education classes for local youth
- Summer internship opportunities for refugee-immigrant background youth
Contact Lucas McClish – Community Garden Coordinator Amy Kuhl – Resiliency Programs Manager Medard Ngueita – Executive Director Lmcclish@wr.org Akuhl@wr.org Mnegueita@wr.org (253) 277-1121 World Relief Western Washington
Population Served
Refugees and immigrants in South King County, WA.
Staff Composition
Paradise Parking Plots Community Garden is managed by one full time garden coordinator with a background in environmental science. Additional program support staff include a Resiliency Program Manager, Learning and Development Coordinator, and Grants Manager.
Cost to Participate
$40.00 annual plot rental fee with scholarships available for those under high financial duress.
Research Connections
We have been involved in ongoing research with the University of Washington since 2024. We are working with faculty and undergraduate students from the College of the Environment to measure our site’s impact on mitigating local flooding and water pollution through our green stormwater infrastructure. We formed this partnership through the Research to Action Collaboratory facilitated by Urban@UW. You can read more on this project here.
Paradise Parking Plots in the Media
The Today Show
Watch: Community garden becomes sanctuary for new refugees
The Seattle Times
Read: South Seattle plant program helps immigrants, refugees put down roots
Christianity Today
Read: A Seattle-Area Ministry Wants More Cooks in the Kitchen
