WLWT Volunteers Help Clean Up Kay's Garden in Mount Auburn

Community members come together to maintain a local green space in Cincinnati.

Apr. 10, 2026 at 9:53pm

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An impressionistic, out-of-focus photograph depicting a verdant garden scene with blurred foliage and flowers in shades of green, yellow, and pink, conveying the tranquil and rejuvenating atmosphere of a community green space.Volunteers from WLWT news station joined local residents to help maintain the vibrant green space of Kay's Garden, a community oasis in Cincinnati's Mount Auburn neighborhood.Cincinnati Today

Volunteers from WLWT news station joined local residents on Friday to clean up and maintain Kay's Garden, a community green space in the Mount Auburn neighborhood of Cincinnati. The garden was established in 1999 by neighbor Kay Schwartz, who transformed an empty hillside into a vibrant public space. After Schwartz's passing in 2017, Shirley Rosenzweig has continued the garden's upkeep and preservation.

Why it matters

The Kay's Garden cleanup highlights the importance of community-driven efforts to maintain public green spaces in urban areas. As Cincinnati has evolved over the decades, with the demolition of historic Italianate homes in the 1970s, this garden has provided a lasting natural oasis for the Mount Auburn neighborhood. The volunteer work helps ensure the garden's legacy continues for years to come.

The details

WLWT news crews joined local volunteers on Friday to clear out overgrown weeds, remove dead trees and invasive plants, and generally spruce up Kay's Garden. The garden was established in 1999 by neighbor Kay Schwartz, who transformed an empty hillside into a vibrant public green space. After Schwartz's passing in 2017, Shirley Rosenzweig has taken over the garden's maintenance and preservation efforts.

  • Kay Schwartz established the garden in 1999.
  • Schwartz passed away in 2017.
  • Shirley Rosenzweig has continued the garden's upkeep since 2017.

The players

Kay Schwartz

A neighbor who established Kay's Garden in 1999, transforming an empty hillside into a vibrant public green space.

Shirley Rosenzweig

The current caretaker of Kay's Garden, who has continued the garden's maintenance and preservation efforts since Schwartz's passing in 2017.

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What they’re saying

“Beauty isn't just created, it needs to be taken care of. That's why WLWT is helping out for some spring cleaning today at Kay's Garden.”

— WLWT Volunteer

“I'm not a gardener, but if I see the flowers, I said, 'Wow, I helped that. I have these little things to sprout,' so I feel good.”

— WLWT Volunteer

What’s next

The volunteers plan to continue maintaining Kay's Garden through regular cleanup efforts to ensure the green space remains vibrant and accessible for the Mount Auburn community.

The takeaway

The Kay's Garden cleanup demonstrates the power of community-driven initiatives to preserve and enhance public green spaces, even as a neighborhood evolves over time. The volunteer work helps ensure this cherished garden continues to thrive as a natural oasis for residents of Cincinnati's Mount Auburn area.