HOUSTON – Volunteers arrived Thursday morning to find the Third Ward Community Garden in disarray — planter boxes overturned, irrigation lines slashed, and graffiti sprayed across the wooden fence.
Located on Elgin Street near the University of Houston, the garden has served as a hub for local food distribution and educational programs since 2019.
“It wasn’t just damage — it felt personal,” said community coordinator Devin Price. “This is where kids learn to grow food. This is where elders come to teach. Why target that?”
According to HPD, no suspects have been identified yet. Surveillance footage from nearby homes is being reviewed, and neighbors are now calling on city council to install security cameras in and around the site.
“This garden helps feed over 70 families,” said longtime resident Althea Jacobs. “We won’t let this scare us off.”
A GoFundMe campaign has already raised $2,300 toward repairs as of Friday afternoon.
Anyone with information about the vandalism is urged to call HPD’s non-emergency line.