Construction has officially commenced on the new headquarters for Green Our Planet Compassionate Gardens, a nonprofit dedicated to addressing nutrition, sustainability, and education in the community.
Located at the corner of North Las Vegas Boulevard and Nellis Air Force Base, the facility is expected to open its doors in early 2026.
This site, spanning 1.5 acres, will include a hydroponics laboratory along with both a teaching garden and a community garden.
The initiative aims to revitalize East Las Vegas by tackling critical issues regarding nutrition, food security, and educational opportunities.
Ciara Byrne, co-founder and CEO of Green Our Planet, envisions a space that fosters learning, healing, and growth within one of Las Vegas’ most underserved neighborhoods.
“The average family in this neighborhood lives on $40,000 a year,” Byrne stated, highlighting the economic challenges faced by local residents.
With an unemployment rate of over 8%, which is double the national average, the neighborhood has been struggling since the closure of its local Walmart in 2016, an event that left many residents in a food desert.
Founded in 2013, Green Our Planet began as a modest team working from a single office.
During the pandemic, the organization transitioned to a fully remote operation and significantly broadened its impact by establishing gardens in more than 1,200 schools across 40 states.
The East Las Vegas headquarters will mark the nonprofit’s return to a physical space after more than five years of operating remotely.
Clark County Commissioner Marilyn Kirkpatrick, who represents District B, played a crucial role in identifying and securing the site for the new headquarters.
Byrne acknowledged her as a strong advocate for the project, stating, “We’re building our headquarters here, to serve the community and build something beautiful.”
According to Byrne, the overarching aim of Green Our Planet is to create a safer and more vibrant community hub.
By providing education on food cultivation, the nonprofit hopes to empower families to take control of their own food sources.
“We’re going to be teaching [families] how to grow food, and that will ensure they are the controllers of their own destiny,” she explained.
By growing and harvesting their own food in the community garden, residents will have the potential to improve their food security.
The organization is also collaborating with neighboring nonprofits, including The After Market, which shares the same lot.
Produce cultivated from the gardens will support their food pantry and help redistribute fresh food within the East Las Vegas community.
Byrne mentioned that they are working closely with Pastor DeWayne McCoy of The After Market and his church to support the broader community.
However, there are questions about whether the project aligns with the specific needs of local residents.
While the nonprofit’s mission is clear, its relevance to those in the immediate vicinity is less certain.
The area surrounding the headquarters features primarily apartments and motels, with little housing available within walking distance.
When local residents were asked about the program, there was a noticeable lack of awareness and interest.
In light of these challenges, Byrne stated that the nonprofit plans to engage with local churches and enhance outreach through schools.
“We already work with 12 schools in this neighborhood,” she shared, emphasizing the importance of building relationships with principals, parents, and students.
These local students will be among the first to utilize the hydroponics lab once it opens.
Once inaugurated, the headquarters will serve as the only source of fresh produce within a four-mile radius in nearly a decade.
Whether the facility will attract sustained participation from the community remains to be determined.
image source from：https://knpr.org/local/2025-06-17/new-garden-campus-promises-growth-in-east-las-vegas-but-will-locals-show-up
