Have you ever seen the Asian Gardens in downtown Shreveport?
The gardens are 20 years old, established in 2006 by the ASEANA Foundation, from mostly concrete and overgrowth in an area known as Municipal Park Plaza.
The group dedicated themselves to the gardens and to the celebrations of the Asian Cultures of members’ homelands: Philippines, Japan, Cambodia, Vietnam, China, Indonesia, Thailand, Myanmar, Laos, Korea, Malaysia and India.
An archway stands over a walkway in Asian Gardens of Shreveport in Shreveport, La., shown here Wednesday, March 4, 2026.
By JILL PICKETT | Staff photographer
Asian Gardens of Shreveport is a city park located at 800 Texas Ave. between Milam Street and Common Street in Shreveport Common in downtown Shreveport. It is the only public Asian gardens in north Louisiana.
The ASEANA Foundation along with the City of Shreveport cared for the property for more than 20 years. With the recent dissolution of the nonprofit organization, Shreveport Common neighbors became concerned for the future of the Asian Garden. They are leading a public/private initiative, “Re-Invigorate Asian Gardens,” to create a plan.
According to a first-round assessment of the gardens, the garden beds, trees, art, statuary, lighting and banners need to be repaired or replaced.
A statue stands in Asian Gardens of Shreveport in Shreveport, La., shown here Wednesday, March 4, 2026.
By JILL PICKETT | Staff photographer
Shreveport Common is hosting a community meeting for interested parties from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. on Sunday at the Emmett Hook Center at First Methodist Church, 550 Common St., which is across the street from the gardens.
According to a news release, the informational and call-to-action meeting will include a tribute to the garden’s founders, an overview of the current conditions of the gardens, and the opportunity for the community to share their ideas and learn about volunteer opportunities. They hope to get input on adding informational signage, ongoing preservation and how to make it easier for the community to program the space.
Asian Gardens of Shreveport in Shreveport, La., shown here Wednesday, March 4, 2026.
By JILL PICKETT | Staff photographer
In the release, Wendy Benscoter, executive director of Shreveport Common, said, “Thanks to the hard work of so many over the years, this corner is surprising and unique. We want to see it remain a place where we can learn about and celebrate our community’s diversity.”
Re-Invigorate Asian Gardens is a project of the nonprofit, Shreveport Common, Inc., and the Shreveport Common Think Tank volunteers. Other partners include City of Shreveport Public Assembly and Recreation, and the Office of Community Development through a Neighborhood Improvement Project grant, private supporters and volunteers.
Wendy Benscoter, Shreveport Common Inc. executive director, speaks about an upcoming community meeting regarding Asian Gardens park during a Frontline meeting Tuesday, Feb. 3, 2026, at First Methodist Church in Shreveport, La.
By JILL PICKETT | Staff photographer
Registration is not required to attend the meeting, but the online registration form has a place to indicate if you are interested in a specific country or culture, if you know any of the history or have any photographs, and ways you can volunteer from clean-up to refurbishing statues to gardening to event programming to communications.
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