PHILANDO CASTILE COMMUNITY PEACE GARDEN

The transformation of the scene of a tragedy into a space of reflection, healing, justice, and community remembrance.

Falcon Heights, Minnesota

5,000 SF

2019-2022

The Philando Castile Community Peace Garden epitomizes a sanctuary of reflection, healing, and advocacy for justice dedicated to Philando Castile. In response to his 2016 murder, a coalition comprising of his family and community, combined with expertise of the design team, transformed the scene of a tragedy into a bastion of peace. This collaboration yielded a garden enriched by art, communal gardening, and photo narratives, marking the location of Philando’s untimely death as a ground of communal unity, activism, and memory, embodying a commitment to societal change and healing.

In response to this tragedy, Castile’s family, community members, and organizations united to create a lasting tribute at the location where he was murdered. Selecting the garden’s location took three years and extensive community input. Initially, the site was an unremarkable, planted berm between the state fairgrounds and a county road, straddling Saint Paul and Falcon Heights. A team of architects, landscape architects, and artists collaborated to ensure the garden fosters deep reflection. Through community engagement and artistic integration, the space was shaped to memorialize Castile and inspire conversations about racial justice and police accountability. This process ensured the garden became a powerful symbol of resilience and hope.

Located along the renamed Philando Castile Avenue, the garden is a place for mourning, remembrance, and activism. Adjacent to the Minnesota State Fairgrounds, it transforms the site into a space for contemplation and unity, embodying Castile’s enduring spirit and the community’s commitment to justice. At the heart of the garden is a central gathering platform encircled by a bench modeled after the seats of Castile’s 1991 Oldsmobile. This bench serves as a powerful symbol of remembrance and collaboration. Visitors enter the garden through five steps, each symbolizing a bullet from the fatal shooting, leading them on a reflective journey. The garden’s design encourages engagement, allowing visitors to reflect on history, community, and the ongoing struggle for justice. Thoughtful placement of pathways, plants, and sculptures creates an immersive experience evoking both sorrow and hope. By weaving together these elements, the garden stands as a testament to how landscape architecture can serve as a medium for storytelling, resilience, and healing.