Community-Based Urban Garden at Queen Rania Park, Amman: A People-Centered Story of Growth (2022–present)

Located in Queen Rania Al-Abdullah Park in East Amman, Jordan, the Community-Based Urban Garden serves as a practical initiative addressing multiple urban development and sustainability challenges using a people-centered approach. Beyond food production, the garden functions as a space for community engagement, social cohesion, skills development, and climate adaptation. In the context of Jordan’s water scarcity and reliance on food imports, urban gardening contributes to local resilience by enhancing food security, mitigating urban heat, and supporting livelihoods through low-cost, community-led solutions.

The garden was launched in 2022 as part of a regional United Nations (UN) Human Settlements Programme (UN-Habitat) program for “Inclusive, safe, resilient, and sustainable development in urban areas hosting Syrian refugees in Jordan and Turkey.” The objective was to convert underused urban spaces into green, useful places that benefit the people living in the local area. This was in response to the city of Amman facing climate stress, limited green spaces, and tensions between host communities and displaced communities. More than 1.36 million refugees live in Jordan, many of them in Amman’s eastern districts. Queen Rania Park in Al-Qweismeh is located in a dense neighborhood with a diverse population and limited recreational or green areas.¹ This garden became a solution that could bring people, nature, and opportunity into one shared space.

In October 2022, the project officially launched. A team from UN-Habitat and The Greater Amman Municipality (GAM) cleared a plot of land, checked the soil, and designed a layout that included a greenhouse, planting beds, compost bins, etc.² These were chosen carefully to show how city dwellers can grow food in different ways—even in limited space. To spread awareness in the community, the organizers held outreach events, including an early “planting day” where families and young people joined in the first planting activities. These events built community buy-in and public support.³

Local residents and refugees from Syria were able to access training in how to plant, water, compost, and care for the garden, in addition to gardening skills such as growing mushrooms without sunlight as a critical source of protein, how to compost food scraps, and how to grow crops year-round in the greenhouses. A key feature of the project was its emphasis on hands-on participation. Community members were actively involved in all aspects of the garden’s development. The training extended beyond agricultural techniques, aiming to build individual confidence and transferable skills applicable in domestic settings or future employment opportunities.⁴

The project incorporates several climate-resilient and resource-efficient features. A greenhouse enables year-round cultivation and provides a controlled environment for sensitive crops such as tomatoes, peppers, herbs, and seedlings. A dedicated mushroom room demonstrates the potential of low-light, indoor food production. Raised beds filled with nutrient-rich compost facilitate accessibility for users of all ages. Additionally, the composting system converts organic waste into fertilizer, reducing waste generation while supporting soil health. Together, these components minimize water usage, eliminate reliance on chemical inputs, and promote circular, sustainable agricultural practices.⁵

The food produced provided participants with access to fresh and nutritious produce while helping to offset household food expenses. The greenhouse and mushroom room supported consistent yields across varying seasonal conditions, while the use of compost enhanced soil quality and agricultural productivity over time.⁶

As the garden developed, community ownership and self-organization increased. Local residents formed management groups to coordinate schedules, share tools, maintain plots, and distribute produce. These groups met regularly to address challenges, plan upcoming harvests, and exchange knowledge. Some also began exploring small-scale income-generating opportunities through the sale of surplus crops. While city officials and UN-Habitat staff remained engaged in a supportive role, day-to-day operations progressively shifted to community leadership. As a result, the garden evolved into a focal point for local engagement, capacity building, and social cohesion.⁷

Implementation

The project is led by the United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN-Habitat) and funded by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP). The Greater Amman Municipality (GAM) is the local partner, providing land and long-term support.⁸ The participants and beneficiaries include both Jordanian residents and Syrian refugees.⁹

Cost

The project itself was funded and implemented through a partnership between UNEP, UN-Habitat Jordan, and the Greater Amman Municipality. However, specific cost figures have not been publicly disclosed.

Assessment

The Community-Based Urban Garden at Queen Rania Al-Abdullah Park has shown early success as a people-centered policy initiative. The program directly benefits both Syrian refugees and Jordanian citizens, who have received training and now actively participate in cultivating food, managing compost, and growing mushrooms.¹⁰ The project remains active as of 2025 and continues to attract high-level international interest, including visits from UN representatives. It has been recognized as a finalist in the 2024 Award for Best Practice in Citizen Participation by the International Observatory on Participatory Democracy (OIDP), reflecting international endorsement reflecting international endorsement.¹¹

The garden supports food security by providing fresh produce, which can lower household food costs, and offers livelihood opportunities through vocational training—especially for women. Socially, the project fosters strong bonds between refugee and host communities, creating a shared space that builds trust and cooperation. Although there are no public figures on exact cost savings or income generated, the project clearly contributes to self-sufficiency.

Challenges remain around long-term funding, water scarcity, and replicability in other neighborhoods. However, the garden’s community-led model and low-cost infrastructure make it resource-efficient and scalable. With political and institutional support from UNEP, UN-Habitat, and the Greater Amman Municipality, it stands as a promising model for inclusive urban development in Jordan.

The project is unique because it brings together many solutions in one place—helping people grow food, learn new skills, care for the environment, and build stronger ties across the community. It focuses on the real needs of people living in the area, including women and refugee families. Still, because it is only happening in one park for now, the number of people it can help is small. To fully understand how well it works over time and whether it could be successful in other areas too, more follow-up and evaluation will be needed.

Empty floor square and playground ferris wheel in the city park © Adobe Stock/ruixue

Tags

• Building Solidarity
• Climate & Environment
• Food
• Land
• Migrants & Refugees
• Political & Civic Redistribution
• Urban Areas