Special Announcement from Brooks
#SaveTheGarden
We Stood Together—And We Stopped the Sale!
Thanks to the tireless efforts of our supporters and the courage of three City Council members—Rector, Teixeira, and Allbritton—we successfully stopped the City of Clearwater from selling South Garden Avenue to the Church of Scientology.
Now, we invite you to catch the vision for what’s next.
We’re working to transform a portion of this historic street into The Garden—a vibrant green space honoring the African American community that once thrived here in the 19th & 20th centuries. This public memorial park, in addition to our mile-long heritage trail, will preserve and share the rich oral and written history of old Clearwater.
The land still belongs to the city, and we are actively pursuing a public/private partnership to lease it for the people.
Scientology is expected to try again. But we remain vigilant—fighting to ensure this sacred space stays in public hands and becomes a place of healing, learning, and unity for all Clearwater residents.
You can help us by doing the following:
Support the movement
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After our victory, we celebrated for a moment and went back to work! Your generous donation will help us accomplish the following tasks:
- Fund our land use attorney to advance negotiations with the city
- Modify our architectural drawings for our proposed memorial garden
- Underwrite our university research grant to study and validate the history of old Clearwater
- Continue to produce media that documents our journey
About us!
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We are a volunteer-led coalition of Clearwater residents working to preserve and tell the true story of our city — starting with Garden Avenue, once the entryway to a vibrant African American community.
Our vision goes beyond building a park. This is a history preservation effort.
We are reclaiming public land to create a welcoming green space downtown — a physical place where people can gather, reflect, and reconnect. But just as importantly, we are curating the oral histories of those who shaped Clearwater’s past. Through multimedia exhibits, community storytelling, and interactive displays, we are honoring the legacy of everyday heroes: teachers, veterans, and families who made this city what it is.
This space will serve as the launch point for a citywide walking tour that celebrates Clearwater’s unsung legends — across neighborhoods, races, and generations. Our goal is to build a living museum without walls: one that educates, inspires, and unites.
This is more than land. This is legacy.
đź’Ą Join the movement. Spread the word. #SaveTheGarden
Sign Our Petition
Save Our City’s Memories
We, the residents of Clearwater, stand for preserving our public land and honoring the rich African American history — as well as the stories of all who lived, worked, and played along Garden Avenue. Say YES to a public green space for all, and NO to giving more downtown land to the Church of Scientology. Let’s protect our past and shape a future that reflects all of Clearwater’s people.
Our Plan
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Preserve the Opportunity.
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Urge the City Council to preserve all opportunities and improve plans for community use of this land for everyone before they decide to sell the property.
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 Negotiate with the City.
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Meet with each council member and the city manager to cast our vision and incorporate their suggestions.Â
 Win the Proposal!
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We will submit our proposal to lease a portion of South Garden Avenue from the City of Clearwater to build a memorial garden for the people!
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 Stories from The Garden
This project will feature many stories that will be experienced through multimedia (QR code technology). We will curate a library of inspiring stories from the old days of downtown Clearwater. We intend this garden to be the start of a long walking trail that continues throughout the city!
Learn More About Our VisionContact Us
We want to hear from you!
