City of Lenoir dedicates the David R. Horn Education Pavilion at Community Gardens

The City of Lenoir dedicated the new David R. Horn Education Pavilion last weekend at Unity Park & Community Gardens. Mayor Joe Gibbons unveiled the name during the Earth Day & Arbor Day Celebration held April 19, 2025, at the gardens.

“We are so excited today that we are going to dedicate this pavilion to the man who put this whole thing together,” Mayor Gibbons said. “Today, we officially name the pavilion the ‘David R. Horn Education Pavilion.'”

Horn was instrumental in developing Unity Park and Community Gardens more than 15 years ago. The gardens opened in 2012 and have been growing ever since.

Today, there are more than 50 garden beds available to rent and more than 40 Community Share beds for people to pick free produce. There are Master Gardener demonstration beds, bee hives, blueberry bushes, and a garden shed. The City paved the parking lot and added a new driveway earlier this month. The latest addition is the David R. Horn Education Pavilion.

“David, you have been the man behind this, and I know you have a great group of volunteers and your master gardeners,” Mayor Gibbons said. “But they had to have the glue to keep it going all these years, and that has been David Horn. Thank you for making this such a beautiful place.”

Mr. Horn said there should be many more names on the sign than his.

“Thank you everybody, all the Master Gardeners, all the volunteers, all the gardeners who come out,” Horn said. “I’m kind of overwhelmed, so if you don’t mind, I’ll say thank you to everyone … and we’re going to cut this ribbon and open this place officially for education, health, and wellness for all of Caldwell County.”

City Council approved building the new pavilion in June 2024. Click the following link to read more about the project: City building new pavilion at Community Gardens, Aug. 15, 2024.

There are still beds available to rent at the garden. The rental fee includes the garden bed, growing mix, and access to tools and water. There is also a restroom for gardeners. Click the following link to learn more: Rent a garden bed at the Community Gardens and start planting, March 6, 2025.