Seattle, Washington story
A Garden Born of Activism
Can a garden be a political statement? In 1975, in the heart of the Chinatown-International District, a group of Asian American activists decided it could. They looked at a steep,…
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Can a garden be a political statement? In 1975, in the heart of the Chinatown-International District, a group of Asian American activists decided it could. They looked at a steep, undeveloped piece of land owned by a local business owner named Danny Woo and saw an opportunity.
Through negotiations led by InterIm CDA, they convinced Woo to convert his property into a community space. The result was the Danny Woo International District Community Garden. It wasn't just about planting vegetables; it was about claiming space and fostering community autonomy in an urban environment.
Named in Danny Woo's honor after his passing, the garden remains a public oasis. It serves as a living reminder that grassroots organizing can turn an empty lot into a sanctuary for an entire neighborhood.
Updated June 2026