In 1990, Olympia’s Yashiro Japanese Garden opened to the public, but because it’s tucked away behind walls along a five-lane street with fast-moving traffic, not everyone knows it’s there.
It features a koi pond, a granite Japanese lantern, a tall, 12-layer granite pagoda, curving stone pathways, plants, such as azaleas, wisteria, hostas, perfectly pruned bamboo groves, and flawless stretches of moss. The entrance gates were built with Japanese no-nail carpentry.
The garden was created to celebrate Olympia’s sister city relationship with Yoshiro (now renamed Kato), Japan.
For the past 35 years, it has been a place of tranquility, behind the former Olympia City Hall at 8th Avenue and Plum Street.
Now, it’s on land the City of Olympia recently sold to the Squaxin Island Tribe. The Tribe plans to build a hotel, restaurant and conference facility on the site.
So the garden is in peril. The city hopes to “relocate” it, but of course it’s impossible to pick up a garden and move it. Some of the hardscape — all that granite! — could, with enough money and heavy equipment, be moved. So could the granite lantern and pagoda, and some of the smaller plants.
The challenge is twofold: finding a new site — possibly in an existing park — and finding a large pile of money. The original park was the product of a collaboration between city government and the nonprofit Yashiro-Olympia Sister City Association.
The city paid $100,000; the Sister City Association raised $200,000. In addition to that $300,000, the city of Yashiro contributed the stone lantern, the pagoda, and other garden features.
The 1990 purchasing power of $300,000, adjusted for inflation, is now about $743,045.
Then there’s the cost of maintenance — an issue that has been troublesome already. For a time, the city employed a full-time horticulturist to care for the garden, but that job got whittled away to nothing in successive budget cuts. Since then, the garden has been cared for by a combination of volunteers and a part-time city landscape crew.
Interim Parks Director Sylvana Niehuser says, however, that “Despite these efforts the garden has faced growing challenges due to aging infrastructure, poor soil drainage, illicit activity and the impact of the nearby five-lane roadway. Restoring the garden to its original condition would require a significant investment: rebuilding the pond, waterfall and pump house; repairing stucco walls; improving drainage and irrigation and adding screening from adjacent properties.
“With the property sale, we have an opportunity to relocate and reimagine the (garden) in a way that offers a place of reflection and peace. We are approaching this opportunity with openness and particular attention to the relationships within our community as well as with the City of Kato. ... City staff are fully committed to engaging in thoughtful and respectful dialogue with all stakeholders to ensure the future garden is a place to celebrate our Sister City and honor Japanese culture for generations to come.”
This might be an impossible mountain to climb. Former mayor Cheryl Selby, who is now the chair of the Sister City Association, doubts they can raise anything close to the $200,000 (in today’s dollars, over $389,000) they did in 1990. She says the Association has about 30 members, and for the last few years its sole activity has been biennial exchange visits between Olympia for students one year and adults the next.
The City of Olympia’s budget is also constrained, to say the least. And in the end, creating a new Japanese garden is likely to cost a million dollars or more.
In this time of turbulence, how much do we need “a place of reflection and peace,” as Niehuser called it? How important is it to honor Japanese culture and horticulture? And how important is it to sustain and strengthen our local Sister City Association?
Niehuser says the city needs a plan in 18 months. It must include a decision about a location that could provide more access to more people. It also needs both a big pile of money upfront, and a long-term plan and budget for maintenance if it intends to be — as Niehuser notes — “available for generations to come.”
This is the time — early in the process — to think and talk about solutions. Thurston County probably doesn’t have any tech billionaire philanthropists, but surely we have some millionaire philanthropists.
We may also have more prospective members of the Sister City Association who could strengthen its capacity to raise money. Would the Squaxin or other local tribes help? Would the local or regional Japanese-American community? Would you?
This isn’t just an issue for gardeners; it’s an issue for everyone who needs a place for reflection and peace.
Jill Severn writes from her home in Olympia, where she grows vegetables, flowers, and a small flock of chickens. She loves conversation among gardeners. Start one by emailing her at jill@theJOLTnews.com
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TheGreatAnon
Yashiro Japanese Garden is much more than a garden. It is in part a memorial of the history of America's war with Imperial Japan, a war that ended with nuclear weapons.
It is bad enough the Squaxin tribe will raze the mid-century Olympia city hall to throw is some ticky tack nonsense, i.e. casino, but the destruction of the Yashiro Gardens is a needless insult.
Friday, May 16 Report this
WillStuivenga
I'm saddened and disappointed that the property sale didn't include a provision that would have protected the garden. I've visited it several times (not as often as I should), and enjoyed the tranquility, as well as the photo opportunities. The tribe should have been required to maintain the garden as a part of the terms of the sale. Given the costs involved in moving the garden, it seems an unlikely outcome. If the tribe wants to turn the property into a profit-making enterprise, THEY should be responsible for shouldering the costs involved in moving or maintaining the garden.
Friday, May 16 Report this
COLHOTY22
Olympia is the past, Lacey is the present, and Tumwater is the future.
Friday, May 16 Report this
Hmoats
I wanted to suggest someone reach out to Angela J Bowen Conservancy Foundation at 1010 Rogers St SW, Olympia, Wa 98502. I don’t have the time, but I sure hope this gem of a park can be preserved.
Anyone have an email or phone # for the Foundation?
Friday, May 16 Report this
Annierae
Hmoats:
Angela J Bowen Conservancy Foundation
https://www.causeiq.com/organizations/angela-j-bowen-conservancy-foundation,912015916/
1006 Plymouth St SW
Olympia, WA 98502
(360) 352-1300
Saturday, May 17 Report this
peterpumpkinhead
I would hope that the tribe and downtown business people would chip in for this and other projects that attract people downtown and thus to their respective businesses.
Saturday, May 17 Report this
NetBloke
Why wasn it not part of the deal to have the garden moved to a suitable location at the the tribes cost?
Saturday, May 17 Report this
BobJacobs
Kudos to Jill Severn. Very nice article.
Bob Jacobs
Sunday, May 18 Report this
nkhloly
The Japanese Garden is not a disposable old relic. It is an essential part of Olympia’s culture and history. It is as important now as it was 35 years ago.
The replacement costs should come from the proceeds of the sale. Additional fundraising is fine but we didn’t sell this property to lose an icon of Olympia’s rich commitment to quality of life and international connections.
I suggest that the property at 9th and Adams be considered for the new facility. Make this investment while considering the design of the new Olympia Timberland Library.
Sure we have budget constraints but we also have values and a vision for this community.
Sunday, May 18 Report this
JessiLovingLife
@nkhloly do you realize that you're asking them to erase one cultures park to replace it with another? 9th and Adams is already Rebecca Howard Park with a picnic space and lush figs growing and where they hosted the Juneteenth festivities.
Maybe suggest an undeveloped space that doesn't already mean something to people
Sunday, May 18 Report this
Georgewalter
To those who believe that the garden relocation costs should come out of the sale, go to a city council meeting and let your views be known. Or use the council's convenient email link from the city's website.
It's possible that the sale proceeds are, for the moment, uncommitted but that won't last long. Time to speak, and get organized, is now.
Sunday, May 18 Report this
Munnin
A beautiful possibility would be a Squaxin/Japanese garden as part of the new development with a Native ethnobotany garden and Coast Salish Art growing in confluence Japanese sculpture and plants. Squaxin artist Andrea Wilbur Sigo would be a great creator to run this by, she has a lot of experience creating public art.
Tuesday, May 20 Report this
The_Armed_Gardener
35 years ago, it was Olympia's bond with Asians. Relinquished without a thought, today, it is Olympia's bond with Native Americans, etc. White and Asian communities are just annoyances from the past. Blacks, Hispanics, Indigenous Peoples, Trans, Gays, and Junkies will shape Olympia's next 35 years. There is no stopping it. Hang on to your hats. It's going to be a bumpier ride down our decaying streets over the next 3 decades.
Tuesday, May 20 Report this