“To plant a garden is to believe in tomorrow.” – Audrey Hepburn
This hopeful quote now lives on a newly rebuilt raised bed at Mesa Urban Garden—a bed with deep roots and an even deeper meaning.
Designing for Accessibility
When Mesa Urban Garden first opened in 2013, accessibility was a priority. Board members David Crummey and Ryan Winkle approached Arizona State University’s Design School professor, Milagros Zingoni, for help in creating raised planter beds that would make gardening more inclusive. The idea was simple but powerful: beds that could be enjoyed by both adults and children in wheelchairs, as well as older adults who needed to garden at standing height rather than on the ground.
Professor Zingoni encouraged her students to take on the challenge as part of the Freedom by Design™ program through the ASU American Institute of Architecture Students (AIAS) Chapter. The initiative empowers students to apply their design skills to real-world projects that remove barriers and improve accessibility in their communities. For Mesa Urban Garden, it meant a space where everyone could share in the healing benefits of gardening.
Roots of the Original Bed
Construction began in 2013, and among the ASU students involved was Amineh Warrayat. Her passion and dedication helped bring the project to life. She played a key role in fundraising, organizing lemonade and pie sales, and securing donations to ensure the ADA bed could be built. Her drive was matched by her belief in creating inclusive, beautiful spaces for everyone.
A Bed in Decline
Over the years, the desert climate took its toll. By about 2019, the wood had weathered, the structure had deteriorated, and the once-vibrant space was no longer functional. The bed’s decline was disheartening, but it also highlighted how deeply it was missed—reminding us just how valuable it had been to the community.
Community Rallies to Rebuild
Wanting to restore it, the MUG Board launched a campaign on SeedMoney.org and put out a call to members and friends for donations and assistance. That effort raised $1,400, and the East Valley Garden Club contributed another $1,000.
Following her work on this project and graduating from ASU, Amineh was hired by Multistudio, an architecture and brand experience design firm. But now, in a full-circle moment, her colleagues returned to Mesa Urban Garden in November of 2022 to completely renovate the ADA bed… but this time, it was in her memory. Amineh tragically passed away from cancer in January 2022.
Multistudio not only purchased materials but also rallied their network of contractors to donate time and expertise for the construction. Thanks to this collective effort, the bed was fully rebuilt, and on November 23, 2024, her friends, family, and colleagues gathered for a touching dedication ceremony to honor her life and legacy.
A Living Tribute
Located just outside the garden fence, it’s accessible to all visitors—an intentional and enduring symbol of inclusion, community, and hope. We are honored to carry forward Amineh’s spirit and grateful to Multistudio, her loved ones, and everyone who helped make this renovation possible.
As one colleague shared, Amineh understood that hard work can be joyful when it’s driven by great purpose.Today, the bed stands not only as a tribute to Amineh but as a lasting resource—rebuilt to endure for years to come and continue offering a place of growth, resilience, and connection.
Mesa Urban Garden is truly fortunate to have such a caring and committed community. ❤
If you’re inspired by this story and would like to give back, we’d love your support. Whether through your time, skills, or a financial contribution, you can help Mesa Urban Garden continue creating spaces that bring people together. Contact us today.