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About

What began as the Onion Creek Community Orchard, (now know as the Onion Creek Memorial Garden), is a neighbor-led initiative to transform city-owned buyout lands in Southeast Austin into a thriving community orchard and food forest. Rooted in land once devastated by the Halloween Floods of 2013 and 2015, the orchard is being planted by survivors, neighbors, and supporters who believe in turning loss into life. Located along Savorey Lane across from Perez Elementary, the orchard will provide fresh, free food for the community while offering a space for learning, gathering, and healing.


History

On October 31, 2013, Onion Creek left its banks and devastated a community. Two years later, on October 30, 2015, another flood swept through, shattering what remained. These events became known as the Halloween Floods. In their aftermath, the City of Austin acquired hundreds of homes in the Yarabee Bend, Onion Creek Forest, and Silverstone subdivisions. The northern portion of Yarabee Bend was converted into park and trail amenities now known as Onion Creek Metropolitan Park @ Yarabee Bend and is maintained by Austin Parks & Recreation. The southern and southwest portion is known as the Onion Creek Watershed Management Area and is maintained by Austin Watershed Protection, with three blocks in the southwestern area Perez Elementary identified in the City’s planning process as “potential community agriculture” spaces.

The Onion Creek Park Neighborhoods Alliance (OCPNA), formed by flood survivors, has carried forward the vision of residents who hoped the land could one day sustain life again. Today, OCPNA is working with the City of Austin Watershed Protection Department and other partners to plant and steward a community orchard on the land closest to Perez Elementary.


The Orchard

The orchard will feature a diverse mix of fruit and native trees chosen for Central Texas conditions: apples, plums, peaches, pears, figs, loquats, pomegranates, pawpaws, mulberries, and Texas redbuds. These trees will provide food, shade, and habitat for pollinators and wildlife.

This project aligns with the Austin & Travis County Food Plan (2024), which emphasizes that “food connects us all.” By providing free, fresh fruit, the orchard will help address food disparities while creating a space for education and community connection.

Community feedback has been collected in person and online to guide the design of the orchard. A carefully designed irrigation plan will ensure sustainability and plant survival, while pathways and open areas will make the orchard welcoming to all. Over time, the project will expand northward into a community garden, offering even more opportunities for neighbors to grow food together. The site's main design limitation will be floodplain regulations, which has extremely specific requirements as to what types of fencing or permanent structures are allowed on the site. Anything installed onsite cannot impede water flow, which has provided some unique challenges in the design precess.


The Orchard Team

The Orchard Team is made up of area residents and supporters who have been working diligently to design an orchard that is both sustainable and welcoming. Together, they chose the name Onion Creek Memorial Garden to honor all that was lost in the floods. Their vision is to create a place that nourishes both body and spirit, while serving as a model for community-driven restoration.


Get Involved

This orchard is a community effort. There are many ways to help:

  • Volunteer at planting days, workdays, and community events
  • Share expertise in gardening, irrigation, permaculture, or design
  • Donate funds or materials to support trees, irrigation, and supplies
  • Spread the word through schools, neighborhood groups, and social media

Every hand, every voice, and every gift brings us closer to planting roots that will nourish generations.


Support & Fundraising

We are accepting pledges for those wishing to donate funds to cover permits, irrigation, plumbing, water meter installation, deer netting, and other essentials. Thanks to early pledges—including a $5,000 mini‑grant from Fruitful Commons and volunteer commitments from local organizations—we are well on our way. But we still need community support to make this dream a reality.

Neighbors can pledge time, materials, or donations. Larger sponsorships and grants are also being sought. Together, we can ensure the orchard thrives.

Please click the link at the bottom of this page to sign up for our newsletter and/or make a pledge to support the orchard once official approvals are received.


Location

The Onion Creek Memorial Garden will be located at the corner of Canella Drive and Savorey Lane, across from Perez Elementary School, southwest of Onion Creek Metropolitan Park–Yarabee Bend.


Stay Connected

Follow our progress, planting days, and community events:


Above is the proposed concept plan for the park, this survey and portion of the planning process focuses on the sites identified for potential community garden (yellow areas).


***** This site is still under construction. Please check back regularly for updated information. Thank you, The Orchard Team *****