Gateway Gardens History

The planning for Gateway Gardens began in 1999. The City approached Greensboro Beautiful about interest in developing a new garden in Southeast Greensboro. Immediate Past Chair and long-time volunteer of Greensboro Beautiful, Pam Allen, worked with the City to identify the site at the corner of E. Lee & Florida Streets near Barber Park. Pam was the visionary who pushed to get the gardens off the ground, and who worked tirelessly to involve the community and its residents in the planning and implementation. In 2000, Greensboro Beautiful approved $20,000 to fund development of a Conceptual Master Plan. Shortly thereafter, Greensboro Beautiful held design planning meetings with the neighborhood and citizens of Southeast Greensboro to gather input to develop this plan. In 2002, the Master Plan for Gateway Gardens was completed and approved by Greensboro Beautiful and the City of Greensboro.

Over the next few years, design details were completed; and Greensboro Beautiful began a capital campaign to raise funds from individuals, businesses, foundations, and government agencies to begin the project. Phase I construction was completed, and the garden was opened to the public in 2011. This phase includes the Main Entrance, parking, Michel Family Children's Garden, Rain Garden, Greensboro Heritage Garden, public artwork and special features. Construction on the Visitor Center began in 2012 and the facility opened to the public in 2014. Future development includes a Wedding and Special Events Garden, Japanese Garden, and White Oak Forest.