Decades in the works, African American Cultural Garden breaking ground on final phase

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April 8, 2026

Megan Sims, cleveland.com

African American Culture Garden Mockup — A rendering of what the African American Cultural Garden will look like after construction is complete, which is slated to be by October 2026. (Ubiquitous Design Ltd.)

CLEVELAND, Ohio — After 65 years in the making, the African American Cultural Garden is nearing completion with the final phase set to break ground Thursday at noon.

Thursday’s event represents the culmination of a decades-long effort to develop a space within the Cleveland Cultural Gardens that honors the presence and history of African Americans in Greater Cleveland. Construction is targeted for completion by Oct. 30, 2026.

The upper portion of the garden on Wheelock Avenue was completed in 2015, featuring the “Door of No Return,” which represents the portal enslaved Africans passed through to board ships bound for the Americas. Meanwhile, the lower portion has remained unfinished.

For Obie Shelton, the executive director of the African American Cultural Garden, the event represents long-awaited recognition.

“It represents a significant recognition of a significant population in Northeast Ohio for hundreds of years,” Shelton said. “There are multiple ethnicities in Cleveland and the African American community has been here for more than 150 years and our contributions have been tremendous.”

Shelton said the groundbreaking reflects decades of persistence from community members and leaders.

Learn more about the project.

Discover how another garden honors the formerly enslaved.

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