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Japanese Tea Garden Capital Improvements Project
The Japanese Tea Garden, one of San Francisco's most visited attractions, is in need of major capital improvements and restoration. Developed from the Japanese Village exhibit of the 1894 California Midwinter Fair, the Tea Garden was managed for 48 years by the Hagiwara family, who resided in a 17-room home among the gardens until their expulsion from the United States during the hysteria surrounding the outbreak of World War II. Management of the gardens was then transferred to the city, and over the next 50 years the Gardens underwent numerous transformations including the removal of several Hagiwara family treasures, the addition of a classical Zen garden and Lantern of Peace, and the erection of three wooden gates crafted from Hinoki cypress and constructed entirely without the use of nails.
Although the garden has been expanded and beautified by art and horticulture aficionados throughout its rich history, little has been done to renovate deteriorating retaining walls and bridges, to restore and retrofit the beautiful pagoda, tea house, and gates, and to ensure adequate accessibility and safety for all visitors.
Since the Parks Trust has had measurable success both with the Capital Campaign to Restore the Conservatory of Flowers, and with the Memorandum of Agreement with the city for the operations model developed to ensure financial security and architectural soundness for the Conservatory for at least the next 100 years, it is uniquely qualified to begin investigating the breadth and depth of the Tea Garden's needs.
Phase 1 planning efforts include the Historic Structures Assessment, a Cultural Landscape Report, and the ADA upgrade requirement report. Thorough reporting can cost up to $100,000, but once these reports have been completed, they will become official historical documents of San Francisco, and will be made available to the public. Regardless of whether or not the Parks Trust decides to take on the Tea Garden Restoration Project, these invaluable reports will be made available to any organization or individual interested in the Restoration of the Tea Garden, thus facilitating collaboration.
For more information, please contact Patricia Ivancich, Director of Development, 415.750.5107, development@sfpt.org.
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