CLEVELAND — Many neighbors remember what the land looked like before: a car dealership that stretched over 3 lots. When it went out of business, urban blight soon set in. An eyesore in a community that already had enough challenges.
Zulma Zabala saw past the decay. She envisioned what it could be, and all that it could do:
"When I worked here at the East End Neighborhood House, I convinced the board to buy this lot. I didn't know what we were going to do, but I thought if we buy the that we own the entire block. Fast forward many year, we decided that a green space was something that we wanted to create so that people can gather and come together, celebrate and share as a family and a community," Zabala said.
It took patience, in her 12 years as President and CEO of East End, but the green space she and the community hoped for - is now a reality.
The Ubuntu Gathering Place consists of 3 murals, an obelisk, and stage in the shape of Africa, green space and a memorial. Ubuntu is an ancient African word that means humanity to others.
"I studied the philosophy of Ubuntu which basically is a South African philosophy that speaks to us and teaches us to see each other in each other, to understand that our very breath is connected to the breath that someone else takes."
The space is a way for neighbors to see each other, celebrate together and come together in sadness. The neighborhood has faced moments of violence.
"We want to remember those that were here with us. We want to be able learn and share. Covid showed us that we gotta have outside space, right? So that we could continue to operate. So we hope to do early childhood out here. Our seniors could be out here, our parents could share outside. But most important the Ubuntu Gathering Place gives us an opportunity to come together as a community and just celebrate one another," Zabala shared.
The space is thoughtfully and intentionally designed to address some environmental needs. It is landscaped with newly planted trees and plants that mitigate storm water runoff.
There is another component too: "This is an opportunity to teach people about green space. We could possibly talk about some job development. What are some things that people could learn about the environment and doing work in the green environment," said Zabala.
A short walk away is the Woodhill Community Garden, created in conjunction with the Calvary Hill Church of God and Christ, in collaboration with the Western Reserve Land Conservancy.
"We like to call this is the nicest garden. This side of the Cuyahoga." We met Isaac Robb, who is the VP of Planning and Urban Projects at the Western Reserve Land Conservancy at the garden, which sits next to Calvary Hill Church.
The fenced garden features raised beds, compost bin and an irrigation system. There is also a pavilion to serve the community.
"Pastor Fields and his wife Iris are really the champions of this. They have been focusing on overall community health. The Land Conservancy actually just completed a property inventory, and we know that in the City of Cleveland Land Bank program there are 20,000 vacant parcels. We recognize it's really important to have new housing, but there are also other amenities that create resiliency community and provide different types of environmental health to a neighborhood just besides building homes," Robb said.
"We recognize that having fresh food in areas that might not have access to traditional types of grocery stores are really important as well. We learned that a lot during the COVID pandemic, that being able to really survive and thrive on healthy food within your own community is really critical," Robb added.
A pathway will eventually be built to connect the two. "There's going to be a gate, so the East End Neighborhood, seniors and young children can access the community garden. People that garden can go relax and have a celebration at the Abuntu Gathering Place.
This is a connection leaders say shouldn't stop there. Mayor Justin Bibb remembers the times he found solace at Luke Easter Park while growing up.
"Regardless of where you live, here in Ward 6, the westside or any part of the eastside, every child, every adult has a park that they can go to that's safe, that's beautiful, that's well programmed and reflects our values as a city," Mayor Bibb said at the ribbon cutting for the greenspace.
The timing of the event is not lost on Zabala, who has had a hand in planning every step of the way.
"This is a strong African American community. East End Neighborhood House is unapologetically a Black organization servicing its neighborhood. So it was just fitting that we do it (leading up to) Juneteenth," she said.
Many organizations have played a role in seeing the Abuntu Gathering Space and Woodhill Community Garden become a reality:
East End Neighborhood House, Calvary Hill Church of God and Christ, Brocar Development Corporation, Western Reserve Land Conservancy, The Cleveland Land Bank, Environmental Design Group, LAND Studio, St. Luke's Foundation, The Cleveland Foundation, and Northeast Ohio Regional Sewer District.
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