Community Need

Panama Park is a food desert and one of Jacksonville’s most marginalized and high-risk neighborhoods. There are too many unhealthy opportunities for the children in this neighborhood which is known for its drug houses on each block. The 3,685 residents are offered educational opportunities to learn sustainable farming, healthy living, and basic skills such as building and cooking - healthy opportunities and choices for the youth.  Located in the center of the community and freely accessible, the garden addresses food insecurity, high crime and mistrust among neighbors.

A June 2026 Folio Weekly article states there are 29 food deserts in Jacksonville, describing Duval County as having one of the higher rates of food insecurity in Florida.  https://folioweekly.com/2026/06/19/jacksonvilles-food-insecurity/

A 2023/2024 Urban Health Alliance report (citing the City of Jacksonville’s 2023 Resilient Jacksonville document) identifies 38 neighborhoods with low income and low food access—defined as a significant share of residents living more than 1 mile (urban) from the nearest supermarket. https://uha.ufhealthjax.org/wordpress/files/2024/03/Food-insecurity-issues-solutions.pdf
 

 

Programs & Activities

• Free raised-bed and accessible gardening plots (wheelchair-friendly).

• Educational workshops on the teaching deck including gardening, exercises, cooking.

• Children’s mud kitchen and family-friendly spaces.

• Gatherings, celebrations, movie nights.

• Relational ministry through shared work (weeding, harvesting, etc.) that turns strangers into friends and demonstrates a healthy way of doing community.

• Future: Farmer’s market and juice bar to share bounty with the broader community.

• Be a model demonstration farm designed as a blueprint to be replicated in other neighborhood food deserts.

Operations & Management

• Location: 6912 Buffalo Ave. Jacksonville, FL 23308  Northeast corner of the city park called Panama Park. Approximately 1/3 acre with expansion room if needed.

• Staffing: Director (full-time), Book Keeper, Marketing Specialist, and Volunteers. 

• Administration: CEO - Tom McLeod; CGO - Roxie McLeod (Chief Garden Officer); Other Board Members: Ronald Shider, Bill Coughenhour, Agnes Fredricks.   

• Partnerships:   Already secured: Neighborhood association, one local church, 5 local businesses, and the City of Jacksonville.  Yet to secure: Individual garden trellises and garden stakes (financial partners), more local churches and businesses.

• Accessibility: Kid-friendly and senior/wheelchair accessible. 

Sustainability & Growth Plan

• Phase 1: Stabilize personal support - goal: fully funded by 1-1-27.  Increase regular garden participation through work days and educational programming. This will secure the sustainability of this garden.

• Phase 2-3: Grow the current garden from 9 beds to 20 and add educational programming, accessible beds, mud kitchen, work stations with sinks, grill, teaching deck enhancements (benches and electricity), shade/awning, and initial farmer’s market setup. Launch farmer’s market and juice bar for greater community reach and minor revenue as well as city wide awareness.

• Phase 4-5: Welcome and train those looking to use this model demonstration farm as a blueprint to be replicated in other neighborhood food deserts throughout the city.      

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Budget Overview 

• Personal Budget for the Master Gardener/Ministry Director and organizer   

• Garden Operations Budget: This covers the cost of a Book Keeper, a Marketing Specialist and any garden projects or needs. (e.g., irrigation, raised beds, etc.)  

The above budget will be channeled through GoToNations, a NCFA organization. Only In-Kind and money raisers by the neighbors specific for the garden conducted by the Neighborhood Association will go directly to Panama Park CDC. 

 

Funding Sources:

• Personal Support Raising: Build a team of monthly (trellises and stakes). 

• Designated Gifts: For specific projects (irrigation, security, awning for shade, etc.).

• Grants: Community food projects, urban agriculture, and faith-based foundation grants.

• In-Kind Donations: Businesses, churches, individuals (tools, materials, volunteer labor).

• Fundraisers: Garden parties, plant sales, farmer’s market proceeds (future).

• Partnerships: Local government, neighborhood association, local businesses.

 

Statistics over the past 3 years - 6/2023-6/2026

 

11 educational workshops with participants from our neighborhood and beyond

4 large events (anniversary, ground breaking, ribbon cutting and mural reveal)

15 elementary children participated in group projects daily for 4 months 2025

42 total Households represented from the neighborhood who have participated

146 total individual volunteers (mostly neighbors) to work in the garden

1,800 total volunteer hours

45 total individual guests have come to a Garden Tours

746 total harvest in pounds (plus tomatoes, peppers, and watermelon almost ripe!)

$18,455 total worth of donated supplies, plants, tools, etc.

$5,000 total grants (a matching grant from the City of Jacksonville for the deck)