The Payne Phalen Pocket Parks project was founded by myself and a group of neighbors in 2012 in response to the issue of foreclosure on the East Side and the toll that vacancy, blight, perceived crime.  Where there is an underused vacant strip of land the project tries to see the potential to make a space that is beautiful, useful and can enhance our sense of place and belonging. The project used community engagement sessions to bring new voices to the discussion and gather feedback from neighbors.

In 2012 the group identified the first park location, a newly vacant lot from a derelict building demolished by the city.  Stone Garden on Jessamine was built in 2013 and incorporates found objects and the existing cow path by neighbor kids to create a winding path with ornamental and edible landscapes. 

In 2013 we secured funding for a second park and began looking for a site that would offer more visibility and tie into the growing efforts to revitalize Payne Avenue, the main business corridor on the East Side.  Prairie On Payne was built on city owned land as one of the cities first ornamental only community gardens.  Prairie on Payne is a pollinator garden using native prairie species and creates a urban respite spot on a busy intersection.