Houston, TX
United States
Columbia Tap Rail-Trail & South MacGregor Way Texas AIDS Memorial Garden since 1 December 1986
without names
In 1986, Michael Lee and his partner planned and planted an urban retreat on a stretch of land, long abandoned by the railroad and City of Houston. Reaction to the grief for many lost friends from AIDS sparked the dream of an AIDS Memorial Garden for Houston. They spent a year removing truckloads of debris and trash trees. Saved concrete debris became a wall and fill dirt became berms built to prevent further dumping. Two years later they started planting trees, mostly from Arbor Day, and rooted cuttings from the oleanders in Moody Gardens.
Lee's master plan called for a monument at each end to anchor the garden. Year by year, the garden expanded to 0.85 acres of an urban retreat with various micro-ecosystems. Together with his partner, he built a pathway to the bottom of the deep ravine. An 18 foot tall column is a focal point of the memorial garden and is identified with a plaque engraved with “1986 Victim of AIDS."

City of Houston