Japanese Garden strides forward

Purchase of property seeks to include other features to park

MOSES LAKE — Someday, the city will have a Japanese Garden.

Until then, authorities are working to ensure people enjoy it when it opens.

The $48,000 purchase of an 8,000-square-feet parcel adjacent to the garden's future site is part of a mission to enhance the surroundings of the park, and make it more enjoyable for people once it is ready.

The parcel, located near the corner of Seventh Avenue and Alder, will allow the city's parks department to install tables and benches near the garden, which will sit surrounded by a rather park-unfriendly area.

"(There is) very little development you can make in a wetland," said Spencer Grigg, director of the city's parks department . "There are 11 acres and only one of it will be the garden. The bulk of it it's marshy ponds."

Hence the desire to purchase property north of there, to install more park-friendly features.

This does not mean, Grigg explained, that the park will be identical to the other city parks, on the contrary — the garden will remain a unique part of the department's inventory.

"It will not be a place where you would go for a game of frisbee," he said. "It's a place where you can go for a walk and contemplate the beauty of it all."

This garden is expected to highlight vegetation over swing sets, tranquility over soccer practices and peaceful walks over boisterous basketball games.

"It would not be a place for you to put a picnic table and a lawn," Grigg said. Nevertheless, the purchase of this property, and others nearby the city has interest in, would allow for such activities to happen later on.

The land the city has purchased includes a house, described by some as an eyesore. The house shows cracking paint and boarded-up windows and it is likely to be demolished, City Manager Joe Gavinski said.

Gavinski said the city is interested in acquiring three other properties near the garden, as well.

Councilman Steve Shinn said that such interest in properties for the garden were "a benefit for the city."

Shinn added that he expects to be involved in the future negotiations if and when they take place.

"I have been in contact with the (owner) to see if they want to sell it," he said. "She is going to deal with me rather than with the city."

Shinn mentioned 25 years of business dealings with the owner of that property.

"I have been very proactive with the Japanese Garden," he said.

This $48,000 purchase, as well as any that might come in the future, Grigg said, would help connect the garden with the Blue Heron Trail that runs through nearby McCosh Park.

"It would be killing two birds with one stone," Grigg said referring to the connection with the trail and with the installation of amenities.

The park would also further the city's international relations with Japan and Japan Air Lines, he added.

Shinn agreed, saying the Japanese have lent the city and the Basin in general a very strong heritage in building the community.

Grigg said the city would be excited by the final result of the garden, expected to open sometime during the warm months of 2005.

"It's not the kind of thing you would normally find in an eastern Washington community of 16,000 people," he said. "I hope our community and our visitors would respect it and appreciate it."