The Nafasi Green Space is a community-led outdoor project developed alongside Nafasi on Centre to create an accessible gathering space shaped by resident input and long-term care. From the outset, the space was envisioned as an extension of Nafasi’s role as a neighborhood anchor, supporting everyday use rather than a single programmed function. Planning began with a winter design charrette that brought together residents, local organizations, artists, and partners to discuss how the site could remain open, welcoming, and connected to surrounding streets.

Youth voice played a central role in shaping the design. Students from Weil Elementary shared ideas focused on play, creativity, nature, and visibility, reinforcing the need for a space that invites informal gathering and discovery. The resulting concept emphasizes movement and permeability, with pathways linking Centre Avenue, Wylie Avenue, and nearby destinations. Environmental features such as a butterfly meadow, rain garden, deer-resistant plantings, and raised vegetable and herb beds reflect a balance of ecological learning, shared stewardship, and seasonal change.

An early milestone was the planting of a magnolia tree on Arbor Day, marking the beginning of the space rather than its completion. The Nafasi Green Space is intended to evolve incrementally, guided by continued community input, care, and use. It reflects Nafasi on Centre’s broader approach to place-based work by treating outdoor space as a civic resource that supports daily presence, environmental awareness, and collective responsibility over time.

See photos from the Tree Planting and Charrettes below.