The Graduation of the Gardens of Alcatraz

Last October, the Garden Conservancy, Golden Gate National Parks Conservancy, and the National Parks Service issued a joint announcement of the official completion of our ten-year garden rehabilitation project on Alcatraz Island. This iconic island’s historic but long-neglected gardens are once again lush and colorful and now under the local management of the Parks Conservancy.

Since 2003, we have led this enormous collective effort to rehabilitate the landscape of one of the city’s most notorious landmarks, itself a symbol of perseverance. First created in the 1860s by military families wanting to beautify the island’s harsh surroundings, these gardens and their tending later served prison inmates as a respite from the stresses of incarceration. Even the island’s tough “survivor” plants are symbols of endurance. The project also speaks to the power of community involvement. A group of intrepid and dedicated volunteers have been central to the renovations of the landscape and gardens, and continue to facilitate much of Alcatraz’s outreach programs, sustainability practices, and community engagement.

Although roles have changed, the three partner organizations continue to work together. We are overseeing the completion of baseline documentation of the gardens, which will serve as a guideline for ongoing maintenance and preservation of the gardens. We also continue to assist the Parks Conservancy with donor relations and serve in a general advisory capacity.

“The Gardens of Alcatraz are a wonderful example of our mission in action. We count this decade-long collaboration among our most productive and successful partnerships,” said Jenny du Pont, president of the Garden Conservancy. “We are thrilled to see the gardens enter their next phase.”

For more information and a timeline of the ten-year project, visit our Gardens of Alcatraz page.

Before & After: West Side Gardens, Toolshed Terraces in 2003, before renovation (2010, after renovation, above). Photos by Elizabeth Byers.