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In the heart of Puerto Vallarta, where the Cuale River meets the sea, a dedicated group of volunteers works to ensure the city’s “green lungs” continue to breathe and provide citizens with a peaceful space for recreation. Led by President Sunny Rossi, the Vallarta Garden Club has evolved from a local landscaping initiative into a vital civic organization.
In late 2025, I met with Sunny for a midday interview at Rico Indian restaurant, nestled in the heart of the island, to discuss the organization’s history and its vital role in revitalizing Puerto Vallarta’s green spaces.
Originally from California, Sunny’s journey to the region was the result of an unexpected turn of events during the global pandemic. In 2020, Sunny and her husband attempted to relocate to Portugal, but they found themselves redirected when the country closed its borders. Seeking a temporary haven, they chose Puerto Vallarta—a decision that quickly transformed from a stopover into a permanent retirement. With a professional background in interior design and general management, Sunny’s keen eye for aesthetics and organizational leadership made her a natural fit for the Garden Club, which she has led for nearly three years.
A Legacy of Urban Greening
The Vallarta Garden Club was founded 16 years ago by Robert Price, the visionary behind the Puerto Vallarta Botanical Gardens. The club’s first major project was the landscaping of Lázaro Cárdenas Park, followed by extensive work on Olas Altas, Basilio Badillo, and the Francisca Rodríguez street leading to the Los Muertos Pier.
While these areas are now iconic for their lush greenery, the infrastructure is aging. “The plants are beginning to outgrow their spaces, and the containers are cracking,” Sunny explains. A primary challenge involves the Ficus and Primavera trees planted years ago. Their aggressive root systems are breaking the concrete planters, yet removing or replacing them requires complex city permits that are often difficult to obtain until a tree becomes an active hazard.
In 2025 alone, the club successfully rebuilt eight large planters, shifting from the traditional orange to a refreshed blue aesthetic. These specialized repairs are costly and labor-intensive; the club relies on community donations to cover these expenses, as the municipal government currently does not provide funds for maintenance or structural repairs. Beyond the reconstruction, the club has also painted approximately 100 boxes since early 2024 to revitalize the visual appeal of the Basilio Badillo and Insurgentes corridors.
Restoration of the Isla Cuale
The club’s most dramatic intervention followed Hurricane Nora in August 2021. The storm left the Isla Cuale buried under three feet of sand, devastating the cultural and botanical heart of the city. Sunny joined forces with Guy Weeks, founder of Los Amigos de la Isla Cuale, and Vallarta Cares to dig the island out by hand.
Under Sunny’s leadership, the club has transformed the island into a community hub. Their work includes:
- Botanical Curation: Planting dozens of specimens, including large agaves and floral beds.
- Infrastructure: Installing public lighting, electrical outlets, and water faucets for manual irrigation.
- Family Spaces: Building a children’s playground and communal seating areas.
- Maintenance: Employing a full-time gardener, Adán Dávila (52), who manually waters the planters six days a week using a wheelbarrow and jugs.
This overpopulation has disrupted the local ecosystem and led to tragic incidents where off-leash dogs are brought to the island to hunt the cats. Additionally, the club manages a difficult relationship with the island’s transient population. While initial efforts were made to provide employment for homeless individuals, the club scaled back these programs after facing issues with the theft of flora and instances of volatility.
The backbone of the Vallarta Garden Club is its dedicated network of volunteers. From the 12-member board of directors to the residents who assist with planting, these individuals provide the essential manpower required to maintain the city’s green corridors on a limited budget.
Music in the Park
To foster a sense of safety and community, the club hosts “Music in the Park.” Every other Sunday from November through the spring, from 4 to 5:30 p.m., the island’s grass area transforms into a “little Woodstock.” Featuring performers from renowned local venues, these free concerts (donations encouraged) bring residents and tourists together in a festive atmosphere.
“It’s a whole different vibe for a performance that brings the community together,” says Sunny. “It makes my heart glad to see that people are sitting and enjoying the garden.” Upcoming editions of Music in the Park are announced regularly on the association’s Facebook page.
The “Wonderland” Gala: Securing the Future
As a non-profit, the Vallarta Garden Club relies almost entirely on its annual fundraiser to finance year-round maintenance. The organization has announced its 2026 Wonderland Gala, to take place January 22, 2026, at 6:00 p.m. at Oscar’s Restaurant. The evening will feature an open bar, a gourmet dinner, a raffle, and a silent auction, with entertainment by Delilah Beaucoup and the Monaco Band. Tickets are priced at $3,500 MXN as the early Bird pricing ended on Dec. 31st.
For those unable to attend, the club offers memberships ranging from $750 to $15,000 mxn pesos, as well as the opportunity to purchase personalized memorial stepping stones ($275 USD) or benches within the Isla Cuale gardens. More information can be found at vallartagardenclub.com.
Beyond the Gardens
The Vallarta Garden Club’s influence extends well beyond the borders of public parks, reaching deep into the city’s social and educational infrastructure. Under Sunny’s initiative to broaden the club’s impact, the organization has provided 11 headsets to the RISE orphanage to support children’s studies and donated eight laptops to Biblioteca Los Mangos.
Their support for the library also included painting the playground and maintaining the sidewalk plant boxes to ensure a welcoming environment for young readers. Furthermore, the club has collaborated with Vallarta Cares (formerly the Vallarta Food Bank) to install essential plumbing, including a shower, washer, and dryer, while coordinating donations of clothing and diapers. By investing in these diverse projects, the club demonstrates that its mission is not just about aesthetics, but about fostering a collaborative spirit.
The core philosophy of the Vallarta Garden Club is rooted in a deep sense of civic duty. By integrating local voices and supporting communal spaces, Sunny and her team are growing a stronger community fabric. “It started as a community project because we want to give back a little to Puerto Vallarta,” Sunny reflects. “We love being part of this community, and that is why we do the children’s playground and so many other things—we want people to enjoy the beauty of this city as much as we do,” she concludes.
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