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22372 N. Third Street
Hayward, CA
The site of the Japanese Gardens of the Hayward Area Recreation
and Park District has a unique history. This 3.5 acre area
was used to house the agricultural studies program of the
Hayward High School in the Hayward Union High School District
from 1913 through June 1962. In addition to providing Future
Farmer and 4-H educational programs, horticulture on a limited
scale was also studied at this location. In September 1962,
educational activities were removed completely from this area.
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Photo Copyright © 2006
Wendy Gray
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In 1962, recognizing the unique location and characteristics
of the site known as the Botany Grounds, the Board of Directors
of the Hayward Area Recreation and Park District officially
designated the area as a future recreation and park site,
and, in 1972, began activity involved in the acquisition of
the Botany Grounds for park and recreation purposes.
Over the next four years, additional land was acquired, thereby
assuring that this unique and well-located area would be retained
in perpetuity for the leisure pursuits of present and future
residents of the Hayward Area.
The Japanese Gardens is the first garden of a Japanese design
to be developed in California, and possibly in the entire
Western United States, using the principles of traditional
Japanese Garden art, combined with native stone and rock and
California trees and plantings. The structures were built
with careful precision. No stains were used. An immediate
aging process of all wood surfaces was accelerated by a combination
of burning the wood with a blowtorch and laborious task of
many hours of brushing with wire brushes and wood preservatives.
Additionally, care was taken to assure that all joints were
notched before being assembled, and all nails and fasteners
are recessed. The painstaking craftsmanship begins and ends
with each piece of wood as it is carefully molded into what
will become a true landmark, not only in the Bay Area, but
in California and the Western United States as well.
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Photo
Copyright © 2006 Wendy Gray |
The Garden is actually made up of many smaller
gardens and areas which, by design, have been created in the
hope that many residents of the area will want to duplicate
various portions of the Garden on their own property. To this
end, H.A.R.D. can provide complete plant materials lists to
enable interested individuals to create smaller Japanese areas
at their own homes or businesses.
On the first Saturday of the month at 1:00 p.m. at the Japanese
Gardens, the designer of the Japanese Gardens, Kimio Kimura
of Kimurascaping, lectures on how to design, construct, manage,
and appreciate a dynamic art where the garden is complimenting
the structure to create a harmonious relationship.
The Japanese Garden is open from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
daily. Please note that dogs, bicycles, or skating are not
allowed on the premises.
The Garden is available for rent for weddings and similar
events. You can find out more online at H.A.R.D.'s own Web
site, at http://haywardrec.org/weddings.html
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