Leach Botanical Garden, a 17-acre public oasis in outer southeast Portland, is warning that it could shut its gates by mid-March unless the nonprofit running it lands an urgent cash lifeline. Leach Garden Friends says a steep drop in city support has drained its reserves, and it is now moving to cut staff, shrink hours, and suspend almost all public programming. Those cuts would slash education and community offerings just as the garden’s Back 5 restoration project has been opening up more opportunities for local teens.
In a Feb. 10 post, Leach Garden Friends spelled out the budget hole and the emergency steps it is taking to stay afloat. The nonprofit wrote that “The Garden needs additional funding of $50K/month to avoid additional service and staffing cuts,” and said its cash reserves have “dropped low enough that we face closure by mid-March.” The group added that it plans to lay off half its staff, scale horticultural work back to basic maintenance, and cut public programming by 90% starting Feb. 22, 2026.
Why the shortfall happened
According to OPB, the financial gap traces back to the expiration of a pass-through contract with the city on June 30, 2025. Leach Garden Friends says that the shift costs it roughly $350,000 in city support and that the city has not signed a new agreement. The group told reporters it needs about $50,000 per month for the next five months and is urging city leaders to restore about $450,000 in operating money for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2026. At the same time, the nonprofit says its checking account is nearly tapped out and that it has been forced into “painful decisions simply to stay open.”
Back 5 education and youth work
Partners say the Back 5 Community Habitat Enhancement Project, a coalition effort that brings Black and brown teenagers to the garden for habitat work and internships, has its own grant funding and is not immediately on the chopping block. The Back 5 project outlines its goals and partner organizations on its site, and the work has drawn public stewardship support through recent Metro community stewardship grants.
City role and next steps
Portland Parks & Recreation told reporters that the operating agreement with the nonprofit was always intended to nudge the garden toward financial independence, a position reported by OPB. The land and facilities are owned by the city, and Portland Parks & Recreation documents the site’s history and recent capital investments, context that advocates say bolsters their argument for renewed operating support.
Leach Garden Friends says it is chasing donations, memberships and corporate sponsorships while it negotiates with city officials. Its online post lays out ways the public can help immediately. According to the group, roughly $50,000 a month for five months would be enough to keep the garden open through June 30 while a more permanent funding plan is hammered out. For details or to donate, see the group’s post at Leach Garden Friends.
