Thursday, October 1, 2026
The City of Olympia has set aside $350,000 from the sale of the Lee Creighton Justice Center property to fund planning, design and preservation work for the relocation of the Yashiro Japanese Garden, as the city prepares to close the 35-year-old community space next month.
The garden, located at 1010 Plum St., is scheduled to close on June 1, with all garden elements required to be removed from the property by the end of the year, according to a press release issued by the city over the weekend.
The funding will help support the relocation of the Japanese garden, including site selection, public engagement, preservation efforts and the design of a new garden space. Construction costs have not yet been determined, and will depend on the future site and final design.
As part of the transition, the city plans to preserve as many existing garden features as possible. The granite pagoda and stone sculptures — many of which were gifts from Olympia’s Sister City in Japan — will be removed and placed into storage.
“Our goal is to preserve everything that can be saved and use those elements as the foundation of a future garden,” said the city in a statement.
Parks staffers are currently assessing which plants are suitable for transplanting and developing a removal timeline intended to maximize their chances of survival.
The garden’s koi fish will be donated to the Thurston County Correctional Facility, which maintains a koi pond.
Following the closure, Olympia staffers will begin work on identifying a new public location for the garden. The city expects to issue a Request for Qualifications later this year, seeking a landscape design firm with expertise in authentic Japanese garden design.
“The size and character of the future garden will be shaped with public and stakeholder input,” said the city in a statement.
The Yashiro Japanese Garden was created to honor Olympia’s Sister City relationship with Yashiro, Japan.
In 2005, Yashiro merged with neighboring cities to form the City of Kato, though Olympia’s Sister City relationship continues through the Olympia Kato Sister City Association.
City officials said they have been coordinating with the association throughout the transition process and will continue collaborating as plans for the new garden move forward.
The city also acknowledged the longtime volunteers, who have helped maintain the garden over the years, and said staffers are working to connect them with other park stewardship opportunities during the transition period.
Updates on the relocation process and future public engagement opportunities will be shared through the city’s Parks, Arts & Recreation e-news service and the Japanese Garden web page.
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johnvaneenwyk
How about moving it to the Port Peninsula. Like where the lumber yard is now...
Monday, May 18 Report this
OlyBlues
The Olympia city council is such a huge disappointment and disgrace. They intentionally sell off some of the most valuable city property to the tribe at such a reduced cost they can't even afford to relocate their municipal court, destroy a decades old established Japanese Garden, send the Koi fish to jail, and spend $350K to build a new Japanese Garden "somewhere" in the city. This is such incredible planning you'd think the ones responsible for the Jungle developed it.
Tuesday, May 19 Report this
Snevets
I do like the idea of moving it to the log yard!
Tuesday, May 19 Report this
PatMer
OlyBlues, you are so right!
Tuesday, May 19 Report this
dggaddy
Seriously ??. . .the sale of the center is a done deal and there are no . . .NO . . .plans in place for the garden? How can that even happen??
Tuesday, May 19 Report this
BettyVerdammt
City Council sells a property far below market rate and demolishes a friendship park. Olympia needs a completely new Council.
Wednesday, May 20 Report this
Person of Interest
The most shade on this belongs to the City of Olympia for including a friendship park as part of the sale to the Squaxin Tribe. This is a very mature park ringed by large trees. Relocating it for $350,000 is just a drop in the bucket. The City sold a wonderful park full of memories and past events.
Money talks and parks get placed into storage for the city.
I wonder who had to call the City of Yashiro to explain this? I hope the tribe considers preserving the park.
Wednesday, May 20 Report this
Proudcommie
I don't accept this destruction of a revered public space. I hate this I feel like I need to fight back against this.
Thursday, May 21 Report this