Construction is officially underway on the new headquarters for Green Our Planet Compassionate Gardens, a local nonprofit focused on nutrition, sustainability and education. The facility is expected to open in early 2026 in East Las Vegas. At its proposed site, which is the corner of North Las Vegas Boulevard and Nellis Air Force Base, it’s four miles in any direction to the nearest major grocery store.
The 1.5-acre site will feature a hydroponics laboratory, as well as both a teaching and a community garden. According to a news release, the project aims to “revitalize East Las Vegas by addressing critical needs in nutrition, food security, and education.”
Ciara Byrne is co-founder and CEO of Green Our Planet. She says she hopes to create a space that encourages learning, healing and growth in one of Las Vegas’ most underserved neighborhoods.
“The average family in this neighborhood lives on $40,000 a year,” Byrne said. “The unemployment around here is a little over 8% — twice the national average.”
The area has struggled since the 2016 closure of its local Walmart, the only major grocery chain in the neighborhood. The shutdown left residents in what Byrne describes as a food desert.
Founded in 2013, Green Our Planet started out as a small team operating in a single office space. During the pandemic, they transitioned to fully remote operations and dramatically expanded their reach, helping establish gardens in over 1,200 schools across 40 states. The East Las Vegas location will be its first physical space in more than five years.
Byrne said Clark County Commissioner Marilyn Kirkpatrick, who represents District B, was key to identifying and securing the site. “She’s been a strong advocate for us,” Byrne said. “So we’re building our headquarters here, to serve the community and build something beautiful.”
According to Byrne, the nonprofit’s ultimate goal is to create a safer and more vibrant community hub. “We’re going to be teaching [families] how to grow food, and that will ensure that they are the controllers of their own destiny,” she said. “They're able to grow their own food and harvest their own food back here in our community garden.”
Green Our Planet is also working with neighboring nonprofits, including The After Market, which is located in the same lot. Produce grown from the gardens will supply their food pantry and be redistributed into the East Las Vegas community.
“We’re working with The After Market’s Pastor [DeWayne] McCoy and his church to see how we can help support them and the entire community,” Byrne said.
Still, questions remain about whether the project aligns with the community’s actual needs. While the nonprofit’s mission is clear, its actual relevance to local residents is less apparent. The location, near Nellis Air Force Base, is surrounded by apartments and motels, with few houses within walking distance. When asked, no one in the immediate vicinity showed awareness or interest in the program. So, the organization may face challenges in building community interest and promoting outreach efforts.
Byrne said the organization plans to collaborate with churches and expand outreach through schools. “We already work with 12 schools in this neighborhood,” she said. “We work closely with principals, parents, and students. Those kids are the ones who will use our hydroponics lab.”
Once open, the headquarters will offer East Las Vegans its only fresh produce within a four-mile radius in nine years. Whether the facility will draw consistent participation from the community remains to be seen.
