September 22, 2026
Community Development
DATE: September 22, 2026
TO: Mayor Martinez and Members of the City Council
FROM: Lina Velasco, Director of Community Development
Beatriz Guerrero, Transformative Climate Communities
(TCC) Project Coordinator
Matias Eusterbrock, TCC Project Analyst
Subject: Naming the Universally Accessible Community Garden in Honor of Joe Lee Fisher Sr.
FINANCIAL IMPACT: There is no fiscal impact associated with this item. The proposed naming does not require an appropriation, and
costs for the design, fabrication, and installation of
commemorative signage will be identified and presented
to the City Council at a later date.
PREVIOUS COUNCIL
ACTION:
June 21, 2022
October 3, 2023
STATEMENT OF THE
ISSUE:
In recognition of the late Joe Lee Fisher's decades of
community service and leadership in Richmond, City
staff, with support of the Coronado Neighborhood Council and the City’s Recreation and Parks Commission,
request City Council approval to name the new
community garden at Unity Park adjacent to the 17th
Street entrance the "Joe Lee Fisher Sr. Universally
Accessible Community Garden.”
RECOMMENDED ACTION: APPROVE the naming of the new community garden at Unity Park the ’Joe Lee Fisher Sr. Universally Accessible Community Garden’ – Community Development
Department (Lina Velasco/Beatriz Guerrero 510-620-
5450).
AGENDA
REPORT
September 22, 2026
DISCUSSION:
Project Description
On October 27, 2022, the City and six local partner organizations were awarded a $35 million Transformative Climate Communities (TCC) grant from the California Strategic Growth Council (SGC) to implement programs providing economic, environmental, and health benefits for the neighborhoods of Coronado, Santa Fe, and Iron Triangle. This award included $955,044.00 for local non-profit partner Urban Tilth to work with community members to design, construct, program, and maintain an Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)-compliant community garden at Unity Park adjacent to the 17th Street entrance (Attachment 1). This project is intended to provide opportunities for residents to connect with nature, increase access to healthy food, and create an inclusive community space that can be used by residents of varying ages and abilities.
The garden was designed in partnership with Nurturing Independence Through Artistic Development (NIAD) Art Center, VisitAbility, a local non-profit that serves children and adults with developmental disabilities and mental health needs, and residents of the Harbour View Senior Apartments, located on Harbour Way, adjacent to the Richmond Greenway. Through a series of workshops and community engagement activities in 2024 and 2025, Urban Tilth worked with these organizations and community members to ensure the garden's design reflected the needs and priorities of its intended users.
The garden incorporates features designed to increase accessibility and encourage participation by seniors, individuals with mobility limitations, individuals with developmental disabilities or mental health needs, and others who may face barriers to accessing traditional community gardens. These features include raised planting beds accessible from a seated position or wheelchair; sensory garden elements that incorporate touch, sound, and smell to engage individuals with limited vision; and fully ADA-compliant pathways, accessways, and rest areas (Attachment 2).
Project Approval and Construction Timeline
The draft garden plans were presented for review and feedback to the City’s Recreation and Parks Commission on December 6, 2023. The project plans were subsequently presented to the City’s Design Review Board on August 28, 2024, which voted unanimously to approve the project, subject to recommended conditions of approval.
Final construction plans and permits were approved for construction by the City on June 1, 2026, and a groundbreaking ceremony was held on June 9, 2026. Construction is anticipated to be complete by September 10, 2026. The City and Urban Tilth will host an opening ceremony on September 29, 2026, from 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. Once construction is complete, Urban Tilth will provide ongoing programming, maintenance, and volunteer engagement five days per week via its TCC grant funds.
September 22, 2026
Naming of "Joe Lee Fisher Sr. Universally Accessible Community Garden" Joe Lee Fisher Sr., a longtime Richmond resident, business owner, and community leader, passed away on July 1, 2026. Mr. Fisher served as president of the Coronado Neighborhood Council, where he advocated for improved neighborhood conditions and supported many community-based initiatives benefiting Richmond residents. He was also deeply involved in efforts to expand homeownership in Richmond, helping families establish neighborhood roots and build generational wealth. Mr. Fisher also had a direct connection to Unity Park, having played an important role in making the park entrance at 16th Street possible through the sale of a parcel of property he owned.
In recognition of his important contributions to Unity Park, as well as his broader legacy of neighborhood leadership and community service, City staff propose naming the community garden the "Joe Lee Fisher Sr. Universally Accessible Community Garden.” City staff worked with Mr. Fisher's surviving family and the Coronado Neighborhood Council to ensure the proposed name appropriately reflects his legacy. The Coronado Neighborhood Council provided a letter of support on August 28, 2026 (Attachment 3).
On September 2, 2026, City staff presented the proposed name to the Recreation and Parks Commission, which voted unanimously to recommend approval to the City Council (Attachments 4 and 5). Given the recency of his passing, a commemorative plaque and permanent signage will be funded, designed, and installed at a later date.
DOCUMENTS ATTACHED:
Attachment 1 - Location of Community Garden
Attachment 2 - Community Garden Schematic Plan
Attachment 3 - Coronado Neighborhood Council Signed Letter of Support Attachment 4 - Joe Lee Fisher Sr. Universally Accessible Community Garden Nomination Form
Attachment 5 - Recreation and Parks Commission Joe Lee Fisher Sr. UACG Naming Approval Recommendation - September 2, 2026