In 2008, St. Luke’s United Methodist Church merged with Gethsemane United Methodist Church at 6856 Bellaire Boulevard, in the culturally vibrant Sharpstown/Gulfton community. In time, St. Luke’s made a bold commitment to establish a self-sustaining community center there, dedicated to the well-being and development of area youth. Several of these young people served as an advisory board and chose to name the center The Garden. In June 2024, The Garden celebrated its grand opening as a safe, inclusive, and inspiring neighborhood “third space” beyond home and school, where youth can connect, cultivate their potential, thrive and grow.

Through its mission to encourage the curiosity, growth, and well-being of young people, The Garden, a 53,000 square foot facility, provides accessible spaces for organized, supervised programs that enrich and stabilize the lives of neighborhood youth. Participating youth become Members by signing an agreement that outlines expectations and behaviors for using the space. The Garden’s facilities include multipurpose recreation areas, a full-court gymnasium, a youth hall, classrooms, and offices—spaces that hum daily with community and connection. This indoor energy extends outdoors to a regulation-size soccer field directly adjacent to the center.

Executive Director

Ryan Villarreal serves as Executive Director of The Garden, where he has guided the project from groundbreaking through full operations. His deep commitment to the Gulfton/Sharpstown neighborhood began in 2014 as a graduate student teacher. After earning his master’s degree in teaching, Ryan transitioned to leading a grant initiative that partnered a neighborhood nonprofit with The Menninger Clinic, focused on building more resilient and human-centered school and classroom systems. In 2019, through a major investment from the Hogg Foundation, this school-based work evolved to develop youth-centered community solutions through the Community of Care Initiative.

Ryan joined The Garden project in 2022, overseeing construction, leading a coalition of partners to establish founding values, and facilitating a three-month community engagement process through which residents selected the facility’s name. As Executive Director, he now guides the strategic vision, growth, and community impact of The Garden, remaining committed to creating innovative and meaningful solutions that serve and strengthen the neighborhood.