

Who We Are
We are proud to be the oldest and largest community garden in the Chicago Park District. The RBVG is proud to celebrate its 86th anniversary, supported by our dedicated members who collectively bring over a hundred years of gardening experience to our community. Our garden is a green sanctuary where individuals and families can come together to grow their own food, learn the importance of environmental stewardship, and cultivate community. Link here if you would like to join The RBVG.
Our History
We are proud to be the oldest and largest community garden in the Chicago Park District. Our garden's history dates back to before the Great Depression when the concept of Victory Gardens was initiated following its creation during World War I. During World War II, we embraced the title of Victory Garden and contributed to the war effort, just like many other gardens across the country. Since then, our garden has evolved alongside our city and community. From the Great Depression to the technological age, through the rise of urban farming and the transformation of Chicago's south lakeshore, The Rainbow Beach Victory Garden (RBVG) has remained a welcoming space for individuals to engage in a seed-to-table gardening experience. We have had the honor of having the late George Beadle, a Nobel Prize winner in Genetics and a former President of the University of Chicago, as a member, and our garden was featured by ABC Channel 7 News as the last remaining Victory Garden in the city.