Now Under Phase 1 Construction • A public botanical garden in development and not yet open to the community. Join us soon. •
OUR WEBSITE IS STILL GROWING. 🌿 UPDATES ARE BEING PLANTED. 🌿
THE POWER OF FAMILY & FAITH
Creating the Garden has required decades of perseverance, advocacy, and commitment. Through every challenge, Roderick Gay remained dedicated to preserving historic Camp Truitt and creating a public botanical garden for future generations.
With the support of his wife, Pamela Stoner Gay, early advocate Dr. Peter Stoner, and dedicated community partners, Gay’s vision continues to grow through the collaboration of residents, educators, conservation advocates, and community leaders.
ABOUT RODERICK GAY
OF THE RODERICK GAY BOTANICAL GARDEN
VISIONARY FOUNDER & NAMESAKE
Roderick D. Gay's lifelong passion for horticulture, conservation, and environmental education inspired the vision for the Roderick Gay Botanical Garden. For more than two decades, he has worked to preserve historic Camp Truitt and create a world-class public botanical garden for future generations.
Beginning in the early 2000s through the formation of Friends of Camp Truitt, Gay led a community-driven effort to protect the former Fulton County 4-H property and transform it into a destination for conservation, recreation, education, wellness, and environmental stewardship.
For over twenty years, he has shared this vision with public officials, educators, community organizations, civic leaders, businesses, and residents, building lasting partnerships that continue bringing the Garden to life.
Roderick D. Gay’s passion for science began at Frederick Douglass High School, where he earned gold medals in the Science and Engineering Fair for four consecutive years and advanced to the International Science and Engineering Fair.
He later studied Plant and Soil Science at Tuskegee Institute, inspired by the teachings and agricultural legacy of Dr. George Washington Carver, and earned a Master’s degree in Healthcare Administration from DePaul University.
EDUCATION & EARLY ACHIEVEMENT
Roderick D. Gay’s passion for science began at Frederick Douglass High School, where he earned gold medals in the Science and Engineering Fair for four consecutive years and advanced to the International Science and Engineering Fair.
He later studied Plant and Soil Science at Tuskegee Institute, inspired by the teachings and agricultural legacy of Dr. George Washington Carver, and earned a Master’s degree in Healthcare Administration from DePaul University.
EDUCATION & EARLY ACHIEVEMENT
CAREER & PROFESSIONAL EXCELLENCE
Roderick Gay’s career reflects a unique combination of horticulture, landscape design, healthcare leadership, environmental health, and public service.
As a degree-holding horticulturist and landscape contractor, Gay has created Atlanta-area landscapes while promoting conservation and environmental stewardship. He also founded occupational healthcare practices and partnered with Morehouse School of Medicine to advance Occupational and Environmental Medicine education.
PUBLIC SERVICE & COMMUNITY IMPACT
As a College Park City Councilmember and Mayor Pro Tem, Roderick Gay continued advocating for environmental sustainability, public spaces, neighborhood beautification, and community development.
Through decades of leadership and partnership, his vision for Camp Truitt evolved into the Roderick Gay Botanical Garden an approximately 57-acre regional destination focused on conservation, education, recreation, historic preservation, and ecotourism.
VISIONARY FOUNDER & NAMESAKE
VISIONARY FOUNDER & NAMESAKE
OF THE RODERICK GAY BOTANICAL GARDEN
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COUNCILMAN RODERICK GAY, FOUNDER OF THE RODERICK GAY BOTANICAL GARDEN, MEETS WITH DEVIN DOTSON, SENIOR COMMUNICATIONS SPECIALIST AT THE U.S. BOTANIC GARDEN, DURING A VISIT FOCUSED ON GATHERING INSIGHT AND INSPIRATION FOR THE FUTURE GARDEN.
