His wife Helen began planting roses to soften the grim heritage of the coal yard and, little by little, she transformed the former industrial site into a beautiful garden.

On May 10, 1976, with the help of a federal grant which enabled Charlotte to acquire "green space", at the recommendation of Councilman Harvey Gantt, and with the approval by Mayor John M. Belk, the City purchased the property from Henry McGill.

In 1996, the McGill Board entered into a lease with the City of Charlotte to manage the garden, and continues to do so.

[3] The park is partly supported by a grant from the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Arts & Sciences Council (ACS)[4] Today the park covers one and a third acres of meandering paths, fountains, benches, sculptures by Charlotte artist Tom Risser, and over a thousand rose bushes in over two hundred varieties, as well as many annuals, perennials, and herbs.

In an echo of the past, a full sized coal car sits discreetly in one shady corner of the garden, partly hidden by foliage, on a surviving piece of railroad track.