Japanese Friendship Garden to Open its Gates to Public

Nov. 4, 2002

The Japanese Friendship Garden's long, flowing stream is made of rocks that all were all hand picked from quarries throughout Arizona.

 

Valley residents will get their first chance to stroll through central Arizona's first and only authentic, public Japanese garden at an opening ceremony November 16.

The Japanese Friendship Garden, located at 1125 N. 3rd Ave. in central Phoenix, features more than 1,500 tons of handpicked rock, more than 50 varieties of plants, flowing streams, a scenic waterfall and a Koi pond. The opening festivities run from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and will feature Japanese-themed performances on the hour starting at 11 a.m. Opening day admission to the Garden and all events are free.

The Garden is the product and shared cultural vision of the Sister Cities of Phoenix and Himeji, Japan. In the past decade, city staff traveled to Japan twice to view gardens and trained Japanese landscape architects from Himeji made over 60 trips to Phoenix to work on the design and construction of the Garden. They worked hand-in-hand with city staff and oversaw every aspect of construction, personally handpicking all the rock from quarries throughout central Arizona.

The Garden will be open Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. from November 16, 2002 to January 2003. From February 2003 the Garden will be open on Saturdays and Sundays from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. through the first year of operation. Admission will be $1 for adults and free to children twelve and younger. Those who want to make frequent visits to the Garden can purchase memberships that entitle them to unlimited admission to the park. Family memberships are $50, individual memberships are $30 and student/senior memberships are $20.

The City of Phoenix Parks and Recreation Department operates the Japanese Friendship Garden. A total of $3.8 million approved in the 1988 and 2001 bond elections funded design and construction. A viewing pavilion and entrance gatehouse will be built in a later phase.

The Japanese Friendship Garden Committee, a volunteer group, also has played a key role in the Garden's development by raising money, helping with planning and facilitating visits of landscape architects from Japan. The group also will help to recruit volunteer docents.

The Japanese Tea House, located on the grounds of the Garden, features authentic Japanese tea ceremonies and group tours on a reservation basis. Information on Garden memberships or hours, and Tea House availability is available by calling 602-256-3204.

Media Contact:

David Urbinato	602-262-5294
Pager	602-262-5294
Joyce Valdez	602-262-5296