Student Sustainability Center

Gardening in front of the student union

SSC Gardens

New Portland State Community Garden Space

In 2024, the Student Sustainability Center (SSC) was chosen to lead the effort to relocate Portland State’s community garden from its current location at SW Montgomery St. and SW 12th Ave. to a new site at SW Market St. and SW Park Ave. 

The new location is more centrally situated on campus, just one block from PSU’s largest green space, the Park Blocks. Once construction of the new site is complete, the former SSC garden site will close.

Community garden architect mockup

Project Goals

The new site will continue and expand current SSC programming, fostering opportunities for:

  • Food Security and Student Wellness Initiatives: Supplying fresh produce to the PSU Food Pantry.
  • Food Sovereignty: Centering Indigenous and local plant knowledge.
  • Student Leadership: Providing students opportunities to grow, manage, and teach.
  • Service: Providing opportunities for people to volunteer and serve their community by being active in the garden for one-day projects or ongoing volunteer positions.
  • Sustainability in Practice: From composting to native planting.
Students working in the PSU community garden

How will the final design be chosen?

The Student Sustainability Center and the Planning and Sustainability office will decide final garden design choices based upon internal operating needs, input from community members, and fiscal considerations. The final design will be chosen based on the following factors: 

  • Maintenance Needs: Focus on the long-term effort and resource needs. A garden that requires less human effort and cost for upkeep of common areas, paths, hardscaping, fences, etc.
  • Ability for Sustainability Practices: How the garden design can accommodate sustainable garden practices and has strategies for resource conservation.
  • Flexibility of Design: The design’s capacity to evolve and respond to evolving programming needs, such as food production, native planting, research, and shared space.
  • Accessibility: Measures how well the design accommodates all potential users, emphasizing universal design principles.
  • Continuity with Nearby Spaces: The integration of the garden into the larger context of the physical campus and surrounding spaces. 

Community Engagement Timeline

Timeline

Community Voices (October 2024 – February 2025):
An online survey was distributed to both the on-campus and off-campus PSU community to gather input on what they wanted the new community garden to include and how they would use it. Community feedback helped identify what was most important—and what was not feasible at this stage.

Envision the Garden (November 22, 2024):
The SSC and the Planning and Sustainability Office held a public event where students, staff, and neighbors shared ideas for design, wayfinding, and community use.

Small Group Design (June 6, 2025):
Student groups explored layout concepts directly on-site by discussing types of gardens, brainstorming ideas, and sketching practical design options.

Partner Discussions (October 2025):
Internal PSU partners, including Facilities, the Planning and Sustainability Office, Campus Public Safety, and Ground Workshop, helped refine what is feasible for land use, permitting, long-term maintenance, and safety.

Strategic Advisory Committee (September 2025 – Present):
A group of key partners was identified to participate in the Strategic Advisory Committee. The committee sought input on building and maintaining partnerships for the garden and ensuring the design supports multiple user groups and activities.